Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GARANYEMBA Primary School in Gwanda District emerged victorious in the district reading competitions, which were held to promote literac, among rural learners.
The school, alongside Dombo Primary, Nkashe Primary, Datata Primary and Sengezane Primary battled it out in the recent “Book Box”Gwanda District reading competition finals.
At infant’s level, learners competed in picture word matching, word building while at junior level they competed in spelling relay and puzzle solving. At senior’s level, pupils competed in spelling and reading. The winning school walked away with a shield, gold medals and books.
The competitions began at cluster level and saw 28 primary schools battling it out for a place in the finals under a programme organised by the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust (ENMT).
The trust’s director, Mr Michael Moyo, said the reading competitions were introduced in 2022 and since then, schools have been urged to also hold competitions at class level and then move to school, cluster and district levels, to ensure that more learners participate.
Mr Moyo said the target is to hold the competitions every year.
“As ENMT we have come in to assist in developing the education sector through various programmes and one of them is the Book Box programme. Under this programme, we have distributed books to various schools to promote literacy among learners and to promote a reading culture.
“As a follow up to this intervention, we then introduced a reading competition programme for the learners. The competitions are held at various levels, which are infant for ECD A up to Grade Two, junior for Grade Three and Four and senior for Grade Five to Seven. Learners at each level have their reading activities where children can have fun but at the same time they can learn,” he said.
Mr. Moyo said the programme was part of efforts to complement Government in developing the education sector, which reinforces the broader national goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Mr. Moyo said the target is to eradicate zero percent literacy levels, which were being reported in some rural schools.
He said covering the gap is crucial in ensuring that rural learners have equal opportunities as their urban counterparts.
ENMT has so far managed to distribute 11 900 books this term, which are circulating in schools in addition to books that learners can access at the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Library. He said these books have had significant impact in communities.
“Our main target as an organisation is the children, as we want them to develop. The impact has been significant as participating schools now report improved reading habits among learners, greater engagement in lessons and increased teacher confidence in managing library resources,” he said.
“By encouraging literacy and a love of reading from an early age, the programme is not only bridging the education divide but also nurturing a generation of curious, confident learners.”
In a speech read on his behalf by District Schools Inspector for Science, Mr. Bright Dube, Gwanda District Schools
Inspector, Mr Sydney Sibanda commended Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust for their efforts in promoting literacy and education in the district. He said this was in line with Government’s efforts in transforming the education sector.
Mr. Sibanda also urged staff members to embrace activities that were being rolled out to equip learners and sharpen their reading schools.
@DubeMatutu
