literacy

Signature of Hope Trust is implementing a plan to combat the shocking literacy results recently published. They plan to boost reading skills by 2020.

 

In the news – South Africa has the lowest score for reading literacy out of 50 countries globally. Signature of Hope Trust, an organisation dedicated to bettering South Africa, finds that being ranked the world’s most illiterate country is a stark reminder of why they are so passionate about focussing on working to reduce the threat of illiteracy.

‘The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study’ released on 7 December, was based on measuring the literacy levels of Grade 4 pupils during 2011 and 2016 with outcomes that have raised concerns over the quality of South Africa’s education.

“Literacy at the primary school level is the most cost-effective investment in the fight against poverty and poor educational achievement,” says Natalie Philander, General Manager of the Signature of Hope.

The Trust’s has a key strategy over the period 2018 – 2020 that will focus on implementing a literacy intervention programme at a primary school level and provide children who struggle to read with one-on-one attention from a volunteer reading helper.

“Our focus has always been on developing our youth in order to uplift lives and communities for the future, and with this latest alarming report, we know that our focus and our funding is being channelled into a very important space in 2018 and beyond,” says Natalie.

With calls for urgent intervention to improve the education system, especially at early learning centres and foundation phase schooling, Signature of Hope is looking forward to putting their time and energy into supporting this fight against illiteracy at primary school level (Grade 2 and 3) and developing a love of reading in children.

If you would like to get involved and volunteer as a reading mentor and be an agent of change, contact Natalie to learn more.


Sources: Supplied
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Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

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