Various stakeholders and partners in the education sector, have emphasized the significance of equipping learners with the correct reading skills from earlier grades – especially, reading for meaning. This and other means of intervention was the focus at the Early Grade Reading Program Results Launch.
Umalusi’s Senior Manager of Strategy and Governance, Stella Mosimege was in attendance and she says the most effective way to bring about meaningful socio-economic transformation in South Africa, is to improve learning and teaching in schools that are serving historically disadvantaged communities, particularly in the early grades.
“Evidence from research conducted by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) shows that over the past 10 years, the early grade reading studies have been advancing knowledge on the system wide improvement in both African languages and English. This research birthed the Genesis of the Early Grade Reading Program endorsed by cabinet,” Mosimege said.
Christine Muhigana, a representative from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) echoed the African Unions’ (AU) theme for the year 2024 which is to “Educate an Africa fit for the 21st century, build resilient education system for increased access to inclusive, life – long, quality and relevant learning in Africa”, remarking their shared values.
“In collaboration with AU theme and riding on the momentum created by it, UNICEF aims to end learning poverty through investing in proven and cost-effective solutions to improve literacy and numeracy in the early years,” Muhigana explained.
She then explained that UNICEF aims to go beyond the social norms that learning only takes place in schools. Learning and reading should be extended to parents, families, communities and societies that build the child.
The rich conversations held, along with the range of education stakeholders, produced various results and strategies which place a huge assignment for strong intervention in schools.
As an outcome of the launch held, the DBE stressed that there will be heightened capacitation of departmental deeds and subject advisors.
Lesedi Moalosi, the Deputy Chief Education Specialist for special projects and programs and EGRP coordinator at Dr Ruth Segomotsi-Mompati district in the North West province, suggested the re-establishment and placement of reading champions at school level to assist with promoting the culture of reading, parental involvement and engaging learners in reading for enjoyment.
This was supported by Phillip Tshabalala who is the Director for Provincial and District Planning & Implementation Support. He says the importance of reading champions, implementing good policies, strategies and having the right budget support, will lead to the success of the sector.