The name has changed from APADEP to African Labour Educators’ Network (ALEN) – primarily because the political / strategic approach to education in the current Network is different to that of APADEP;

Strategic Intervention in Education

ALEN is not a project but rather a strategic intervention in education - it seeks to bring about a different approach to education within trade unions. This approach needs to be tested in the various countries and if it does make an impact, then it will be is adopted within the country (main-streamed) to become part of the education agenda.

There is also a need to develop a common approach to education on the African continent. An approach that seeks to mobilize workers, address the challenges of neo-liberalism and seeks to find responses and alternatives to the current forms of oppressive and exploitative economic, social and political systems.

ALEN Activities

Country projects – the continuation of the 10-session workplace based, education projects that bring about a conscientization and mobilization of workers;

• the follow-up project of action research, involving the same participants, which is both workplace and sector focused;
• accredited certificate, diploma and degree programs established in all countries;
• development of education resource bases in each country to support main-stream education;
• the development of common education materials for use in accredited and other education programs;
• political workshops to appraise country trade union leadership of ALEN agenda.