
South Africa has a high rate of unemployment and Adult illiteracy. There is a trend towards adult education to enable citizens to earn a living and become valuable citizens to the country. There are many Adult Basic Education and Training facilities. The further education training colleges are also set up to improve the vocational skills of these adults who need skills training in order to get work or better employment. The approach in these facilities should be based on the principles of Progressive education. Children in preparing for their adult life also will benefit from the scientific teaching of the progressive approach. This paper focuses on explaining what Progressive education is and a critical review of its strengths and weakness. It is proposed as an important method of adult education in South Africa.