A Gqeberha primary school principal is determined to improve reading standards, implementing daily literacy programmes whilst battling significant socio-economic challenges affecting pupil attendance and parental support.
Republiek Primary School, which serves 713 pupils from Grades R to 7, has established a dedicated team of reading champions — teacher assistants who work with learners from June through November to boost reading capabilities across the school.
Recently, the school ensured learners participated in various literacy programmes as part of National Book Week, marked from 5 to 11 September.
Principal Patrick Daniels explained that the school’s commitment extends far beyond the annual literacy week celebrations.
“Every day this week we have been busy with our literacy programme,” said Daniels. “In the whole of South Africa, reading is very poor in schools which is why as a school, we don’t only focus on reading during literacy week but throughout the year.”
The school maintains regular reading sessions every Thursday afternoon, conducted in both English and Afrikaans, and actively participates in several spelling competitions, including Grow Smart and the Wow Spelling competition. Additionally, the school competes in circuit spelling competitions alongside neighbouring schools.
However, the school faces significant challenges with parental engagement and pupil attendance that impact learning outcomes.
“Our teachers support the children when it comes to spelling and reading, but we are still struggling with parents,” Daniels acknowledged. “Some are single parents and some abuse alcohol or rely on SASSA grants, so there are many issues that they face, and they are not positive about the children’s future.”
Absenteeism remains a persistent problem, with Daniels reporting that two to three pupils per class are regular non-attenders.
“During the past assessment week some children stayed at home and the parents didn’t care that they were home,” he shared. “Some learners have not been to class and have been at home for more than 10 days.”
Despite offering various sports activities, including darts, chess, football, netball, and cricket, the school continues to face challenges.
Grade 2 teacher, Mishka Baarties, detailed the week’s literacy activities for her class of seven and eight-year-olds.
“Monday to Friday, this week we had exciting activities for the learners,” Baarties explained. “On Monday, we had Read Aloud, when teachers read aloud and asked questions. Tuesday, we had a story week, which we conducted outside the classroom, and the learners particularly loved learning outside the classroom.”
The programme continued with guest readers on Wednesday, featuring assistants reading to learners, followed by buddy reading sessions on Thursday, when children were paired to read together.
“Learners enjoyed reading their books, especially those who are normally reluctant to read. They got to do fun activities,” Baarties noted, adding that the principal actively participated by dressing up and reading to pupils during literacy week.
Meanwhile, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, in partnership with DSRAC Libraries, Nelson Mandela University and Nal’ibali, celebrated International Literacy Day at the Colchester Library on 4 September.
The community event featured book reviews and NMU book clubs, poetry performances by learners from Colchester Primary and Kinkelbos Primary, as well as storytelling sessions facilitated by Nal’ibali’s story reading extension.
