Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
EDUCATION officials in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South Province have taken a proactive approach in addressing the low Grade Seven pass rate, by equipping Early Childhood Development teachers with skills to reduce non-readers in the district.
Last year, the Grade Seven pass rate in the district languished at a mere 34,43 percent.
Authorities identified the issue of having several non-readers in the district as the cause of this low pass rate.
Last week, ECD teachers from the district participated in a workshop at Allen Redfern Primary School in Plumtree Town, where they explored diverse strategies to effectively prepare pupils for reading success.
Bulilima District Schools Inspector (DSI) Mr Gobile Gobile said they have declared war on non-readers in the district.
“The main cause of the low pass rate is that we have so many pupils, who can’t read and these non-readers are being caused by poor teaching methods of teaching reading and also a lack of reading readiness when these pupils get to Grade One.
“So, we are now concentrating on reading readiness at ECD A and B level, by equipping these teachers with the most appropriate training of teaching reading,” said Mr Gobile.
He expressed satisfaction with the training outcomes, revealing that participating teachers have shown a willingness to help reduce the number of non-readers in the district.
“We converged with ECD teachers to showcase the most effective materials that can be used to prepare ECD pupils for reading skills. Teachers showed their commitment to working towards eliminating non-reading in Bulilima schools.
“A competition was held with the following schools excelling: Usher (position one), Mayembe (position two), Butshe (position three), Masotsha (position four) while Masendu took position five,” said Mr Gobile.
He said the initiative will be monitored at schools throughout the year.
“As the District Schools Inspector, I emphasised to the infant teachers in the district that having a learner for four years from ECD A, B, Grade One and Two and the child comes out not being able to read and enumerate is tantamount to witchcraft on the part of the teacher. Every child, who goes through the infant four-year module should be able to read.
“A committee of four teachers was formed to move around all primary schools in Bulilima, in November, to test reading. They will get hold of the attendance register first, then test all the children. Those teachers, who achieve 100 percent reading at Grade One will get prizes such as laptops, iPhones and printers, among other prizes,” said Mr Gobile.
— @mthabisi_mthire.
Bongani Ndlovu