A reading adventure at Ikhwezilesizwe PS
In the Cape Flats of Cape Town there is an urgent need to strengthen literacy and basic reading skills among children. Data shows that more than half of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, highlighting persistent challenges in early literacy development. The impact of poor literacy skills is long lasting as it affects the child's academic and job prospects, and perpetuates the poverty cycle.
The Scouting-in-Schools leaders ran a literacy project encouraging Scouts and learners to read and discuss books. They also had to show that they can use a dictionary, explain basic elements of speech, and read out loud. They wrote and shared their own short stories, and visited a library where they learned library classifications and where to find information. Some of the children got their first library cards!
Learners were excited to share their understanding of nouns and verbs in daily conversations. Even though some learners had to be reminded of the adventure reading brings, reading in groups created a strong peer-learning atmosphere. The project helped the Scouts and learners develop their thinking, creativity, and also promoted personal growth.
