Education
With respect to the Reading for Meaning Programme:
- How much has his Department spent in each financial year since the inception of the programme, (b) in which (i) grades and (ii) schools has the programme been implemented in, (c) what metrics are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme and (d) in relation to (c), what have been the results of the programme in each year since its implementation?
19. My department has informed me of the following:
(a) Overall expenditure for 3 x iterations = R 654 447
(i) FY: 2019/2020
- 1st Iteration: 12 – 23 Aug 2019 (Face to Face)
- Participating teachers: 76
- Schools: 57
- Cost: R 316 347
(ii) FY: 2019/2020
- 2nd Iteration February 2020 (Face to Face)
- Participating teachers: 60
- Schools: 48
- Cost: R 108 836
Total spent for 2019/202 FY: R 425 183
(iii) FY: 2020/2021 (Covid-period: Online)
- 3rd Iteration May/June 2020
- Participating teachers: 93
- Schools: 71
- Cost: R229 264
In total 229 teachers were trained over the two iterations, spanning over two financial years. The course was delivered in 2019 and 2021. In 2023 the course was divided into micro learning opportunities to reach more teachers online and making it a meaningful online engagement.
(b)(i) Grades 4 to 6
(ii) Grade 4 to 6 Reading for meaning participation across districts:
St. Mary's RK PS Andile PS Thorntonweg PS
Siyazakha PS Beaufort West PS Holy Cross RC PS
Towerkop PS Belhar PS Intshinga PS
Holy Cross RC PS Cascade PS Hibernia VGK PS
Zoar EK PS Cascade PS Gateway PS
Christmas Tinto PS Charleston Hill PS Nolungile PS
Sunray PS Christmas Tinto PS Riviersonderend PS
Tafelsig PS Colridge PS Elandsrivier NGK PS
Itsitsa PS Dalubuhle PS Douglas Road PS
Eluxolweni PS De Grendel Special School Nal'uxulo PS
Siyafuneka PS Eastville PS Lukhanyo PS
Sokhanyo PS Enkululekweni PS Chumisa PS
De Villiers PS Enkululekweni PS Kerria PS
Sunridge PS Groenberg NGK PS Die Duine PS
Essenhout PS Ikhwezi Lesizwe PS Die Duine PS
Kayamandi PS Ikhwezi Lesizwe PS Iris Qwela PS
West End PS Ikhwezi Lesizwe PS Die Duine PS
Umnqophiso PS Irista PS Siyazakha PS
Bardale PS Irista PS Kayamandi PS
Teske Gedenk PS Juniper Sreet PS Tuscany Glen PS
Mokone PS Kayamandi PS Ukhanyo PS
Umnqophiso PS Kayamandi PrS Vooruitsig PS
Masonwabe PS Kleinrivier PS Iris Qwela PS
Ludwe Ngamlana PS Kosie De Wet PS Nal'uxulo PS
Gateway PS Kwanokuthula PS Firgrove PS
Bongolethu PS Litha PS Zerilda Park PS
Mfuleni PS Lourier PS Thembelitsha PS
Welwitsciha PS Ludwe Ngamlana PS Kerria PS
Christmas Tinto PS Ludwe Ngamlana PS Ludwe Ngamlana PS
Ikaya PS Ludwe Ngamlana PS Kerria PS
Itsitsa PS Ludwe Ngamlana PS Samora Machel PS
Silukhanyo PS Masiphathisane PS Ikhwezi Lesizwe PS
St. Andrew's PS Masiphathisane PS Soyisile PS
Eluxolweni PS Masiphathisane PS Kayamandi PS
Dalweide PS Maskam PS Holy Cross PS (George)
Trevor Manuel PS Middelpos PS Silukhanyo PS
Welwitsciha PS Middelpos PS Prins Albert PS
Murraysburg PS Mokone PS Thorntonweg PS
Essenhout PS Morgenson PS Holy Cross RC PS
Imbasa PS Morrisdale PS Panorama Prim
Table View PS Mvula PS Chapel Street PS
Imbasa PS Mzoxolo PS E. A. Janari PS
Parliament Street PS Mzoxolo PS Prins Albert PS
Dr. Van Der Ross PS Nomzamo Ps Ashton Public
Isiphiwo PS Pacaltsdorp PS Wallacedene PS
Towerkop PS Pacaltsdorp PS Hopolang PS
Abedare PS Pacaltsdorp PS Kwa-Faku PS
Silverleaf PS Panorama PS West Coast Kwa-Faku PS
West End PS Panorama PS West Coast Muizenberg Junior
Lwazi PS Parkdene PS (Bellville) Wolraad Woltemade PS
Wespoort PS Porterville PS Thembelitsha PS
Imperial PS Prins Albert PS Die Duine PS
Du Noon PS Rainbow PS Firgrove PS
Cypress PS Rainbow PS Soyisile PS
F.J Conradie PS Riebeeck-Wes PS Leiden Avenue S
Isalathiso PS Samora Machel PS Vergesig PS
Sikelela Imizamo PS Siyabulela PS Isiphiwo PS
Welwitsciha PS Riebeeckstraat PS Soyisile PS
Emithini PS St. Paul's Ek PS(George) Emithini PS
Newfields PS Thembani PS Ntwasahlobo PS
Zwelihle PS Thembelitsha PS Christmas Tinto PS
Silverleaf PS Thorntonweg PS Nomsa Mapongwana
Riebeeckstraat PS Wallacedene PS P.J.B Cona PS
Leiden PS Westville PS Umnqophiso PS
Masonwabe PS Enkululekweni PS Homba PS
Trevor Manuel PS Nyameko PS Umnqophiso Parliament Street PS
(c) The course is aimed at teachers who struggle with learners that battle to ‘read for meaning’ in class. The course assists teachers in non-Language subjects where learners' lack language skills and comprehension and to improve their skills to help struggling learners. It also assists teachers who are constantly looking for additional strategies to improve learners' reading with comprehension skills.
Whilst the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI) does not have the capacity for impact assessment measuring, the CTLI used three evaluation practices to determine the successful delivery of the programme:
- Pre- and post-test scores of participants
- Course completion rate
- Course participation feedback based on introspection and reflection
(d) The course was piloted in August 2019 (face to face) and launched in February 2020 (face to face) with the 3rd iteration delivered online in May 2021. Due to the pandemic, the topics were broken up into small micro interventions for 2022. With the addition of creative writing for Intermediate Phase, attention was given to strengthening of this aspect that was new/ added to the revised Annual Teaching Plans.
The evaluation practices utilised suggested that:
- Across the 3 iterations the pre-test average scores show an increase in post-test average scores.
- The inference can be drawn that the pedagogical content assisted course participants to strengthen their gaps in terms of the content delivered.
| 1st Iteration | 2nd Iteration | 3rd Iteration |
Pre-test average | 30.84% | 28.3% | 39.18% |
Post-test average | 54,4% | 52.15% | 54.83% |
- The course retention rate was maintained.
| 1st Iteration | 2nd Iteration | 3rd Iteration |
Total |
Number teachers | 76 | 60 | 93 | 229 |
Completed | 76 | 60 | 93 | 229 |
- Course participation feedback
Snippets of Teacher Feedback:
Facilitator: The following quote of one of the educators says it all: Teacher 1: “My mind has been blown away. I loved every moment of this workshop. I want to do it as soon as I get back to school”.
“They could see how the content of this course could be to the benefit of their learners and they put effort in the lesson plans to master the concepts. They mentioned that the new knowledge was too much to absorb in one course and that it might be a good idea to split the course” (Paraphrasing of teacher comments by Facilitator.
Facilitator: The group as a whole commented very favourably on the course and everyone thought it worth the while and an enjoyable experience.
Participants: “The activities were relevant, and they were used to reinforce the strategies being taught. Each section/concept had activities to help implement it. It’s easy to use and child friendly. These activities will save time because I wouldn't have to spend time drawing up activities and researching.”
“Facilitator B really worked hard in the large group sessions and tried at all times to engage the entire group. She was well prepared and i found her facilitation to be helpful.
“Mrs W really reinforced the strategies in the breakaway groups and ensured that we were given ample opportunities to practice and present.”
