PUSH (Persevere Until Something Happens) a centre in Eldorado Park initiated a read-a-thon where pupils are taught to read and the importance of it.
“We have seen that children in Grade Four and Five still can’t read so we have one-on-one sessions with them to find out where they are struggling,” Bongi Banda from the centre said.
Children are split up into groups according to their age and reading capabilities where each child has a chance to read.
They are taught how to read with expression and how to read punctuation.
Groups then read for each other where they will be judged according to their reading.
“The winning group gets a prize, the last group got shoe polish,” Banda said.
Children are questioned on the definition and spelling of words where each child in the group contributes.
“We have seen the improvement in children.
“At first they were scared to read because others read better than them but now they are excited for the read-a-thon,” Banda said.
They are also assigned with homework.
“Some children go home to parents or grandparents who can’t read but it is empowering for children to be able to read to their guardians,” said Banda.
PUSH also has a library where SeSotho, Setswana, Xhosa and Zulu speaking teachers would read stories in English and explain it in the children’s mother tongue.
The centre encourages children to read as it expands their vocabulary and keeps them up to date with happenings.
