Reading class

The South African Ministry of Education bi-annually provides a reading test designed to measure children’s progress in reading where they get tested at the beginning and end of the school year. From these tests and performances in the township elementary schools, the Ministry has determined that the literacy level is well below par- largely due to a lack of educational materials, libraries, multimedia materials, and unskilled parents.

Another important factor is the overcrowded classrooms- the government appoints only one teacher per 40 students and a class with more than 60 pupils is not considered unusual. These factors lead to many children not reaching their educational potential, with many “school drop-outs” at a very young age.

Born in Africa has a programme in place to assist, both with BIA staff working in the schools alongside the overburdened teachers (predominantly utilised for extra reading lessons) and the construction of new classrooms to help lessen the overcrowding. The teaching assistants concentrate on the children who are having difficulties by giving them extra lessons in subjects like reading, writing, expression, reading comprehension, creative writing, etc.

You can help quite dramatically, by sponsoring a Born In Africa reading class for approximately 40 students.