Twenty-one parents with children enrolled at Kleinberg Primary School in Ocean View have successfully finished an eight-week educational programme designed to empower them to better support their children’s language and early literacy skills.
Denzil van Graan, the principal of Kleinberg Primary School, commended these parents for their committed participation in the Home School Partnership programme (HSPP) administered by Wordworks. They officially completed the program on 12 August during the Saturday morning graduation ceremony.
Wordworks is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting early language and literacy development during the crucial first eight years of a child’s life.
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As reported by False Bay Echo, Mr Van Graan said the course was intended to support children aged 5 to 8.
He added, ‘Come rain, wind, or taxi strikes, the parents were eager to attend the sessions, and some even walked from Masiphumelele or travelled by taxi from Red Hill to be equipped with skills to help their children.’
According to Belinda Smit-Wright, the head of Kleinberg Primary School’s department, the programme has facilitated better collaboration between parents and the school. It has also demonstrated the crucial role parents, as their children’s initial educators, can play in advancing their children’s language and early literacy development.
Smit-Wright said parents feel more confident and capable now to play a bigger role in their child’s education.
One of the graduates Akhona Manzi said, ‘We really learned a lot and had a great opportunity to get the knowledge to help our children.’ Leona Hwenjira, another graduate remarked, ‘I can now use the skills in our community and share it with others around me.’
Mr Van Graan expressed his appreciation to the committed educators for their role in managing the programme, as well as to the support team for their readiness to set up the location and help with daily logistical tasks.
‘I’m extremely proud of the teachers for availing themselves and sacrificing their Saturdays to present the course, ‘ Mr Van Graan said.
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Picture: Kleinberg Primary School / Facebook