As part of World Book Day, several schools across the Western Cape will receive mobile libraries as part of a wider campaign aimed at increasing literacy levels among children.
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On 24 April, learners from Cypress Primary in Bridgetown received five fully stocked mobile libraries thanks to an initiative that aims to support underserved schools across the province. The campaign is run by fund manager Coronation and Living Through Learning, a literacy organisation, Bizcommunity reports.
Alexandra Watson, Coronation Board chair, says improving literacy outcomes is crucial to solving the literacy crisis in South Africa. ‘The fact is that real reading comprehension and enjoyment by Grade 3 is a critical determinant of future academic success and prosperity for all children. It directly correlates to drop-out and pass rates in high school and employability later in life. Coronation is therefore absolutely committed to early literacy interventions in South Africa to help solve the literacy crisis the country is facing.
‘For more than a decade now, we’ve partnered with leading literacy organisations to address the significant deficit in primary school literacy through various interventions – ultimately to ensure that the children in our many beneficiary schools learn to read for meaning and enjoyment in their foundation phase years.’
The partnership between Coronation and Living Through Learning has rolled out 74 mobile libraries in 53 classrooms in 11 schools since 2018. This has impacted 2 760 learners. This year, the partnership will focus on installing 21 mobile libraries across schools in the Western Cape.
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