South Africa has no official strategy on lifelong learning. Adult education is driven by the Policy Document on Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET). ABET is intended to lay the foundation for access to FET. The Department of Education does intend to address the need for lifelong learning in FET, but it has not reached this point yet. According to the policy document:

“Prior to January, 1997 the national Directorate’s domain was ABET. This has been broadened so as to allow the Directorate to respond to adults’ on-going need for life-long learning. It is the intention of the Directorate to participate actively in policy-formulation and implementation within the FET field where the needs of adults for continuing education and training is to be addressed in detail. This document therefore focuses on ABET specifically. Otherwise reference will be made to Adult Education and Training (AET) in the broader, more generic sense.“