INDUSTRY NEWS
Education Department And Novus
Holdings Partner To Improve Literacy
Research conducted by the University of Pretoria has revealed that an
alarmingly high rate of grade 4 South African pupils still cannot read at an
appropriate level.
The research also showed that South African children scored last out of 50
countries for reading. In light of this, the Department of Basic Education has
joined hands with Novus Holdings to improve literacy levels across South
Africa in the Read to Lead campaign. The initiative includes the donation of
mobile libraries at schools across the country, the latest of which was opened
at Bonteheuwel High School, Cape Town.
‘We are extremely proud to have fi ve new stunning mobile libraries, thanks to
Novus Holdings and the department of basic education. We are certain that the
learners will benefi t from the initiative this year,’ said Nicola Pather, principal of
Bonteheuwel High School.
The mobile libraries can be wheeled from one classroom to another, making
them easily accessible to all learners, ‘We believe that access to reading
material is fundamental to improving literacy. We hope that by launching these
libraries, learners at Bonteheuwel High School will be inspired to make 2018 a
year of reading,’ said Mike Ehret, group executive for government and business
development at Novus Holdings.
Research has proven that access to libraries improves learner performance and
increases their chances of success. It has also been shown that learners who
read for pleasure are on average one and a half grades ahead of their peers.
‘Interestingly, book sales globally have increased. But, we need to do more
to foster a culture of reading among the youth, not only at school, but also at
home, so that children will learn to love reading. We need to encourage giving
books as gifts, for example,’ said Ehret. To date more than 20 mobile libraries
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have been donated to schools across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western
Cape. The roll-out of the libraries to the benefi ciary schools was coordinated
and managed by Ahmed Motala of the New Africa Education Foundation, an
NPO that has partnered with Novus Holdings Ltd and the Department of Basic
Education.
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