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The Western Cape Reading Strategy 2026 – 2030 was launched on 14 March 2026 with one ambition: Every child should read for meaning by age 10 by 2030. Photo: Supplied

From commitment to coherence: Reflections on the Western Cape’s reading and literacy strategy

At the launch of the Reading and Literacy Strategy 2026–30, reading was framed as fundamental to the entire schooling experience. The notion that reading is the air that we…

Read right: Archie Mbolekwa Primary School teacher, Hlakanipha
Archie Mbolekwa Primary School teacher, Hlakanipha Gxekwa, received support from Funda Wande to implement daily phonics lessons, guided reading, and writing routines.

Mother-tongue education is failing

The numbers tell a politically uncomfortable truth. A survey of all Grade 4 children in Makhanda’s no-fee public schools this year found that 51% of isiXhosa learners taught in…

Aced it: The winning Grahamstown Adventist Primary School team at
the Phendulani Literary Quiz. Photo: Nozipho Maphalala

Give children high-quality books from Grades R-12: they will likely read them

Research shows that classroom libraries increase reading frequency by 70% compared with centralised libraries

After the release of the Reading Panel’s 2023 report, we have again been reminded of the shocking state of reading competence in our schools.

What can go wrong in the teaching of reading?

Helping a novice reader is so much more than teaching them the names of letters

Covid sets education back years

The effects of the pandemic will still be felt by learners entering the school system in 2028

Pandemic hobbles learners’ futures

South African schools have yet to open for the 2021 academic year and experts are sounding the alarm over lost learning time, especially in the crucial grades one and 12

(Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Education reduces issues plaguing poor countries

To give young people the best chance of success, the two ‘bookends’ to primary school — early childhood and secondary education — must be sturdy

Excellence: South Africa needs to build foundation phase programmes that include on-the-job training and theoretical knowledge to produce teachers who have particular knowledge of child development. Photo: Michaela Rehle/Reuters

​Building the foundations of matric

Foundation schooling needs highly educated, dedicated teachers and this requires a recognition that this is a desired career choice.

On the mysteries of early learning

On the mysteries of early learning

Pilot tests in Gauteng schools have cast new light on mediums of instruction in the foundation phase.

Languages of excellence

A school is pioneering a new method of teaching multilingual children in early grades.

Old-fashioned? Good!

Children in the foundation phase need teachers who they get to know, who they can relate to and who can give them more than instruction.