SmileFM Interview: Mandela Day – Championing Leaders in ECD
It is well-known that Nelson Mandela was both a formidable leader and committed to improving the lives of children, calling them our greatest asset. Developing the rich potential of South Africa’s children, Madiba said it begins with education. To honour the late state’s man on his birthday and every other day, South Africans must champion […]
Umhlobo Wenene Interview: Mandela Day – Championing Leaders in ECD
It is well-known that Nelson Mandela was both a formidable leader and committed to improving the lives of children, calling them our greatest asset. Developing the rich potential of South Africa’s children, Madiba said it begins with education. To honour the late state’s man on his birthday and every other day, South Africans must champion […]
When art imitates life — lessons from Yizo Yizo for South Africa’s literacy crisis
Mantwa is in Grade 11. Despite her age and the fact that she is one year away from finishing school, Mantwa struggles to read which makes learning, understanding and memorising other concepts all the more difficult. If you’re shocked that Mantwa is nearing the end of her school career yet unable to read with comprehension, […]
What can be done to improve reading for meaning in our schools?
The recently released Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) conducted in 2021, reveals that eight out of 10 Grade 4 pupils in South Africa cannot read for meaning. Not only that, but SA ranked at the bottom of all countries surveyed. DG Murray Trust Innovation Director Kentse Radebe spoke to Radio 702’s John […]
Eight in 10 South African children struggle to read by age of 10.
The recently released Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) conducted in 2021, reveals that eight out of 10 Grade 4 pupils in South Africa cannot read for meaning. Not only that, but SA ranked at the bottom of all countries surveyed. DG Murray Trust Innovation Director Kentse Radebe spoke to Cape Talk’s Sara-Jayne […]
Learning Brief: Proactive Interventions to Build Stronger Learning Foundations
One of South Africa’s biggest developmental challenges is the large proportion of children who cannot read for meaning in early grades. Reading with comprehension is a fundamental skill upon which others are built. Children who do not have strong learning foundations are not equipped to read for meaning and, without adequate support, they struggle to […]
Learning Brief: Strengthening Links in the Learning Chain: The Value of Accelerated Learning Programmes
In South Africa, poor reading proficiency in schools has been compounded by pandemic-era learning losses. Accelerated Learning Programmes (ALPs), in various forms, can help address this deficit because they are designed to support children who are constantly falling behind. This learning brief explores how ALPs can help fill the gaps in our schooling system.
Learners were falling behind before the pandemic, so how can we achieve fundamental catch-up?
Learning loss. We’ve heard this term a fair amount since the pandemic began. It’s commonly understood as a specific or general loss of knowledge and skills, or a reversal in academic progress because of gaps in a learner’s education. On radio, television and in newspapers, education researchers and experts used the term to describe the […]
Reading for Meaning: Activities
Stories & activities for parents
Hands-on Learning Issue 13
“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom” reads a quote by E.O. Wilson, who wrote the book, ‘Consilience: The unity of knowledge’. Through the newly revived and rebranded edition of our Hands-on Learning publication, we hope to play a helpful role in synthesising information from innovators and implementers in civil society, supporting them […]
