Employers are investing in digital skills, artisan development, occupational training and new technologies. But what happens when the people expected to use those skills lack the foundational literacy, numeracy and problem-solving capabilities needed to benefit from them?

For many companies, this is a significant gap. Employees may be expected to interpret instructions, complete calculations, communicate effectively, use digital systems and solve workplace problems while lacking some of the foundational skills these tasks require. When those foundations are weak, even well-designed technical, occupational and safety training can struggle to deliver its full value.

Employees cannot get the full value from technical training if they struggle to understand the training material. Nor can digital skills compensate for difficulty reading instructions, interpreting information or working with numbers. The strength of the foundation determines how much an employee can take from the skills built on top of it.

Setting the benchmark in AET since 1996

Triple E Training has understood this for decades. The company pioneered Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) in 1996, with its curriculum subsequently adopted by the South African Government. That experience has shaped an approach to foundational learning that focuses on understanding the learner, the workplace and what is required for meaningful progression.

It starts with a placement assessment that establishes each learner’s existing level and identifies areas requiring development. An AET awareness campaign then helps employees understand why the programme is being introduced, its relevance to their working lives and how it can support their development.

Training is contextualised around the workplace, using relevant tasks, terminology and situations so that learning is immediately applicable. Triple E Training works closely with employers throughout the programme, while maintaining regular engagement with learners to monitor progress, identify challenges and provide the support needed to keep them moving forward.

This matters because AET should not exist in isolation from an employer’s broader skills-development strategy. Employees who can understand instructions, interpret information, complete calculations and communicate effectively are better positioned to participate in technical training, adapt to new technologies and take on greater workplace responsibilities.

From foundational learning to workplace progression

The need remains significant in South Africa. 9.4% of people aged 20 and older were functionally illiterate in 2024, highlighting the continuing need for accessible pathways into

foundational learning. For employers, addressing these gaps can help employees participate more effectively in increasingly complex workplaces and benefit from further skills development.

Triple E Training’s experience is reflected not only in its longevity, but also in its reach. Since its establishment in 1991, the company has trained more than 1.8 million learners, working with more than 6,000 clients across 12,000+ sites nationally. Its programmes span adult literacy and numeracy, AET, foundational learning and workplace skills development.

For employers, the objective is not simply to complete an AET programme. It is to give employees the foundational capabilities to get more from the training, technologies and opportunities available to them.

The future of workplace learning begins with the ability to learn.

Build the foundation, then build on it.