What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
Sebenta National Institute is a public enterprise located in the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known in English as Swaziland, in Southern Africa. The institute delivers adult basic literacy and non-formal education programmes to close the gap between rural and urban populations in Eswatini.
The initiative is implemented in rural and peri-urban areas in Eswatini, targeted at the illiterate population to provide inclusion and upliftment of underprivileged members of society. The institute’s vision is to promote the culture of lifelong learning and support disadvantaged members of the community in their development.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
Sebenta National Institute is a non-profit organization that operates under the Ministry of Education. An executive board of directors provides leadership and direction to the operation of the institute. The initiative works within the broader lifelong learning policy framework and guidelines.
The institute operates with the help of several administrative departments and sectors. The education and training department is in charge of curriculum development, field operations and the monitoring and evaluation sector. The monitoring and evaluation sector adjusts operating programmes based on technical, financial and economic analysis and evaluation. It also assesses the impact of literacy, numeracy, non-formal education and life skills training run by the institute.
The administration and finance sectors monitor financial and physical implementation of initiatives and provide support in evaluating project implementation; they also participate in contract negotiations.
Sebenta National Institute operates based on the national government budget allocations and sub-national governments’ financial contributions (UIL, CONFINTEA VI, 2012).
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
Sebenta National Institute partners with the government to provide non-formal primary education for out-of-school children and youth. Under the Ministry of Education, the institute operates through an executive board of directors. The initiative exists within a broader policy framework and guidelines in five functional areas – administration, finance, catering and accommodation, curriculum and learning, and field operations.
The initiative is supported by various segments of the population – volunteer facilitators, academic and technical personnel, monitoring and evaluation personnel, as well as the learners of the institute who are closely involved in the process at a smaller scale.
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Who does it benefit and how?
The mission of Sebenta National Institute is to support empowerment and development through literacy training for adult populations, thus helping the people of Eswatini to achieve a better quality of life. With the help of professionally trained personnel, the institute provides the necessary resources to deliver efficient courses and an inclusive curriculum.
The objectives of the institute are to achieve improved standards of living through teaching community members how to read, write and count. Learners participate in raising awareness in their communities and develop projects together to sustain change and transformation within the society.
To promote and advance literacy levels, Sebenta provides a variety of programmes and services.
The Basic literacy course (SISwati) provides literacy and numeracy training for adults and out-of-school youth.
The Basic and post-basic English and numeracy course is a two-year course teaching written and spoken English to adults who wish to continue their education in formal institutions. Completing the Basic literacy course is a prerequisite.
The Non-formal upper primary education (NUPE) programme was developed to provide a non-formal alternative to the mainstream school system for adult learners who wish to continue their education. It is equivalent to Grade 4 in the formal education system.
The Non-formal primary education programme was developed in full partnership with the Government of Eswatini. The program provides access to primary education for over-aged children (10–18-year-olds) who could not access primary education due to socio-economic challenges at the required age. The programme employs retired teachers to facilitate the learning process.
Vocation and practical skills training provides courses in building, carpentry and joinery, and sewing, each lasting for nine months. The prerequisite for the course is completing the Sebenta post-basic English course or an equivalent in formal education.
Life Skills Education (LSE) is an initiative incorporated into all programmes offered by the Institute. This initiative promotes sustainable personal and professional growth and enriches the quality of life in the country.
The overall goals of the institute are aligned with lifelong learning and continuous development goals to create awareness in social and economic development within communities. Programmes providing training in the English language serve as bridges between basic (often non-formal) training and higher levels of formal education, which is often delivered in English. The institute provides continuity and flexibility through multiple entry points to serve the various needs of underprivileged citizens.
References
Ministry of Education and Training. 2021. Sebenta. [Online] Mbabane, Ministry of Education and Training. Available at: http://www.gov.sz/index.php/ministries-departments/search-and-menus-setup/sebenta [Accessed 12 July 2021].
UIL, CONFINTEA VI (UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, International Conference on Adult Education). 2012. Reporting template for National progress reports in preparation of the Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE) and the end of the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD). National progress report submitted by the Government of SWAZILAND. [Online] Hamburg, UIL. Available at: https://uil.unesco.org/fileadmin/download/en/national-reports/africa/Swaziland.pdf [Accessed July 12 2021].