World Read Aloud Day: Celebrating the power of reading

Lot Phalatse Primary School Grade 2 learners. Left, Webster Maotho, Makena Lethabo, Katlego Mogale, Boitumelo Nkunika, Tshegofatso Phiki, Grynodge Matsika, Mohau Mokoena, Mojalefa Moloisane, Aida majoro, Mphoentle Mojena,Letlhogonoro Tibi, Tanisha Tsetse and Lethabo Mabena.

World Read Aloud Day has special meaning for Lot Phalatse Primary School in the North West, where a literacy and numeracy programme has been taking place since October 2022, funded by Sasria SOC Ltd as part of the AAS Whole School Development (WSD) programme. WSD aims to effect change across the school spectrum and provide an environment conducive to teaching and learning.

AAS chief executive officer Steve Lebere: “The literacy programme at Lot Phalatse focuses on educator development and classroom support for foundation phase. Built around providing techniques that make teaching literacy easier all round, the programme is benefitting eight educators and 405 learners. One of the reasons we, and the world at large, celebrate World Read Aloud Day, is that it is well documented that reading aloud helps promote literacyand fosters a love of reading inchildren and adults alike.”

Read Aloud event at Lot Phalatse Primary School, reading by Lerato Mabelane Grade 7 read to the entire school.

AAS, a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, creates an ecosystem that encourages reading for both pleasure and the gleaning of information and knowledge. With its vision of creating dynamic, transformed and accessible schooling environments, AAS hopes its WSD model goes beyond academic programmes.

Said Lebere: “World Read Aloud Day celebrates the power of reading aloud and is meant to encourage children and adults to find a book they like and read aloud to a chosen audience.”

The event, founded in 2010 by the non-profit organisation LitWorld, is now celebrated by over 173 countries around the world.

As Margaret Fuller, a 19th century American journalist, said: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

The premise that readers make leaders comes from the belief that reading gives the reader a glimpse into other people’s experiences, views and attitudes, and so allows them to explore their own. This expands the readers ability to see beyond just what they think, to make well-informed decisions that take into account other perspectives, as well as a host of views, thoughts and ideas.

Joseph Marema, the school principal of Lot Phalatse Primary School, said, "We are excited to have the literacy programme at our school. We have learned extensively about the importance of reading and its role in developing the mind and gaining knowledge. As a result, we have introduced a drop everything and read period that takes place once a week to encourage reading for the entire school, including teachers and me. We have also developed reading clubs across all grades and allocated a 30-minute reading slot in our Monday and Friday assemblies. The reading activities will boost the confidence and instil the culture of reading in our learners, as we also have a Q&A session after a read."

About Adopt-a-School Foundation

Adopt-a-School Foundation (AASF) is an entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation (CRF) and was officially established in 2002 by a group of concerned individuals, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr James Motlatsi. The foundation is registered as a Section 21 company with PBO status and has an Independent Board of Directors. The foundation works with a wide range of stakeholders including; District, Provincial and National Departments of Basic Education, corporate donors, various service providers and best practice NGOs. The foundation implements Whole School Development – a holistic model aimed at improving the academic, infrastructural, social and security environment in schools.

There are currently 609 schools under the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s adoption programme. The foundation works in all nine provinces in South Africa, and in Lesotho and Mozambique.

For more information on Adopt-a-School Foundation, visit the foundation’s website at www.adoptaschool.org.za. Email az.oc.loohcsatpoda@sbocajz or call 011 592 6580.

Should you wish to learn more about the work of the foundation please visit, www.adoptaschool.org.za.

Adopt-a-School statistics:

Since inception, well over a billion rand has been invested.
Schools adopted: 643
Learners reached: 1,555,240.
Educators developed: 33,023
Facilities constructed: 715
Jobs created: 14,837
SMMEs: 2,335
Learners benefitting from visual support: 108,048
Spectacles provided: 5,276
Learners benefitting from health and sanitation projects: 21,102
Learners participating in awareness campaigns: 9,423