Short Bio

I am a Pedagogical Academy graduate who, after spending a few years teaching in primary schools, entered the world of adult education. I was quickly hooked. In 2008 I started my own consultancy company Zet een Punt.... I am mainly driven by the confidence people gain when they achieve personal growth. Making a valuable contribution to such growth is my primary goal.

My EPALE

In late 2015, I became an EPALE ambassador in the Netherlands. Together with the other ambassadors, I write about developments in adult education in the Netherlands for the electronic platform. I co-authored the dossier Professionals and Volunteers in Adult Education with Paul Steehouder, as well as wrote several blogs, particularly on L1-teaching.

My Story

I saw my life-long passion become my life's work, promoting the interests of a group of people who play a vital role in the foundation of society. I strongly believe that society would be lost without cleaners, waste collectors, masons and healthcare professionals.
But how do you reach and motivate adults to learn new skills and how do you guide them in their personal growth? I was not convinced that the problem was as complicated as we thought it was. I developed the KLASSE! recruitment method to help tackle it. It's a method that puts people first and is built around what people want to learn, inspired by years of experience with low-literate L1-learners.

A distorted view

The vast amount of low-literate Dutch speakers, about 90%, can speak Dutch fluently and generally have few problems reading. Writing, maths and digital skills, however, are tricky areas. What they need is targeted support, rather than having to start from scratch. Realising the distorted view which prevails in society, I felt the urge and need to speak up. Take a security guard, for instance, who's doing an excellent job until his new supervisor asks him to write a brief report about what happens each day. He's shocked because he doesn’t feel comfortable writing. Other similar examples include entrepreneurs who have to start writing speeches and spouses who suddenly have to take over the family finances. All of a sudden, people can find themselves forced to do something they've never done before. This is when they can find themselves in a difficult situation.

Painting a fuller picture

The torrent of digital developments is incessant. Things you used to be able to arrange in person over the counter can now only be done online. It may be more efficient, but it certainly doesn't make it easier for everyone. Two worlds seem to emerge; one moves at lightning speed leading the way while the other, the world of the low literates, is left behind. There is no connection between these two worlds. My goal was to give low-literate people a face. I wanted to show how varied and diverse this group is. With KLASSE!, I used my experience as a teacher and showed how to connect with the target demographic in an accessible way. Equality is key.

Giving low literacy a face

To help correct the distorted view of low-literate people, I developed four profiles: Fatima, Wesley, Gerard and Elly. These personas give a face to low-literate people. Each profile has various, recognisable traits, including personal characteristics such as family situation, work, interests, everyday activities and social circle, but also motivations.

What inspites Fatima and what excites Wesley? What motivates them and how can you tap into their drive? "Once you've identified their motivations, you can start developing courses that people actually find appealing, courses that are not specifically geared towards language or maths skills. I call them camouflage courses. Ultimately, what matters is that you appeal to the interests of the adults you're targeting. The four profiles form the basis of the KLASSE! method, which seeks to boost the recruitment of Dutch-speaking low-literates.

Positivity and change

KLASSE! is successful because it embraces the philosophy that everyone can grow and has value. From the cleaning lady at a nursing home to the president of the local football club to pensioners. Everyone matters and we all need a helping hand every now and again. In this regard, literacy is irrelevant.

I want to correct the distorted view of 'low-literates' and spread a positive message at the same time. Together, we have to stop labelling people and marginalising low-literate members of society. Low-literate people play a vital role in the very foundations of our society and must be cherished. Supporting them to grow and develop is the greatest goal of all.

Did you get inspired by this story? Let us know below in the comments and get the chance to win an EPALE unique gift!

5 users per month (May 2021 - January 2022) from those commenting on a 2021 Community Story will be picked at random and will receive a gift. Comments must be relevant and related to the topic to be eligible.