Room to Read helps learners read and write

THE partnership between the department of education and Room to Read, which was signed three years ago, continues to benefit local schools in the Sekhukhune area.

The partnership aims to help teachers and learners to improve the standard of reading and writing in the foundation phase of learners’ education.

Room to Read, a non-profit organisation, assists teachers in designing teaching materials to be used in classrooms, conducts professional training workshops for teachers, provides books at no charge for libraries and organises meetings between the department of education’s district officials and communities.

Room to Read provincial field manager, Jeanette Mokgotho, says the schools that are encouraged to be part of the programme are the most disadvantaged schools.

“We work closely with district officials in terms of selecting needy schools so that we can support them.

“We are running two programmes, a literacy programme and a school libraries programme,” says Mokgotho.

According to Mokgotho, the literacy programme focuses on teachers and learners in the foundation phase classes and is about helping learners to write and read independently and with confidence.

She says the organisation’s officials assist teachers and librarians to establish libraries and to encourage the maximum use of libraries by learners of all grades and ages as well as teachers and local communities.

“We also organise meetings with traditional leaders to make sure they encourage communities to take the education of their children seriously.

“We are happy that the children continue to do well in their education,” she says.

Sekwati Primary School’s principal, Ronald Bapela, says the programme has encouraged the learners and teachers of his school to work harder.

“The programme really came at the right time.

“The teachers and learners really enjoy working with Room to Read and we appreciate their support at all times.

“We hope to work with them for years to come,”says Bapela.