New programme promotes literacy at local schools
“Before the Rally to Read partnership, our school didn’t have a library. We are blessed by this amazing initiative,” says Nellmapius ext. 6 primary school principal Marema.
A newly launched programme named Rally to Read wants to donate educational material and other resources to disadvantaged schools in Mamelodi, Nellmapius and Eersterust.
The three-year programme will benefit Nellmapius ext. 6 Vukauzenzele, Nantes, PS Fourie, Zamihtuthuko and Boikgantso primary schools.
Ford motor company spokesperson Duduzile Nxele said it has worked with the Rally to Read programme for several years and was proud to extend its involvement this year to include schools in the Tshwane area.
“The Rally to Read started at our offices in Silverton, splitting into teams and travelling in a convoy of Ford vehicles to visit various local schools. Here they had the opportunity to engage and interact with those schools’ teachers and children.
“This experience gave them insight into the literacy challenges many rural and township communities faced,” said Nxele.
Rally to Read is a social investment activity under the Read Educational Trust and has achieved a meaningful impact on South Africa’s educational system over the past 25 years.
“It facilitates teacher training thanks to dedicated Read trainers, who monitor and mentor teachers on literacy and language methodologies.
“This is done in conjunction with the Department of Basic Education’s subject advisers and school district offices,” said Nxele.
Teachers receive the necessary training and field staff make regular visits to provide support.
The programme strives to target learner literacy development by distributing curated educational books.
Ford South Africa’s government affairs and transformation director, Esther Buthelezi, said the company’s relationship with Rally to Read dated back to 1999.
“We are incredibly proud of it as it makes a real difference to both learners and teachers,” said Buthelezi.
The academic material, with a key focus on foundation-phase learners, ranging from grades R to 3, is prepared and supplied by the Read Educational Trust.
It consists of story books, educational toys, multi-coloured box libraries containing reading books of various genres, as well as smart projectors.
“Before the Rally to Read partnership, our school didn’t have a library. We are blessed by this amazing initiative,” said Nellmapius ext. 6 primary school principal L. Marema.
Rally to Read also used this event as an opportunity to introduce a digital literacy program, that is being implemented for the first time in 2023.
This program will help facilitate better learning opportunities for scholars.
Smart projectors will be used to promote a multi-faceted learning experience by using infographics, streaming online videos and accessing web browsers for real-time information during lessons.
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