NEW computerised books have upped literacy levels in about 200 poor primary schools in Western Cape.
The Talking Stories Programme, running in schools across the Cape Flats, allows pupils in Grade 1 to 3 to read colourfully illustrated books in isiXhosa, English or Afrikaans on their school computers.
There are now plans to develop a programme that would allow children to read books on cellphones.
Launched at Bridgeville Primary School in Athlone in 2008, the initiative has increased literacy levels from 35percent to 80percent among Grade 3s.
School head Albert Arendse told Sowetan: "We are living in the modern world of technology. It is a well-designed package for the foundation phase."
Colby Visser, a Grade 3 pupil at the school, was with his classmates on the Talking Stories Programme in the computer laboratory.
"It's fun. We learn a lot of stuff about computers. We learn how to operate them ... how to use them in order to read and write. I love reading books on the computers," Colby said.
Class teacher Rashida Dalvi, who has been in the profession for 34 years, said that "the interactive nature of the programme makes it very effective".
Through the use of sound it also allowed them to listen to a voice read the same story in their mother tongue.
According to programme developer Kathy McCabe, this made it easy for pupils to master English, which is the medium of instruction in most schools.
Literacy levels had improved by 70percent in the province since the programme started, she said.
McCabe, who has partnered with Macmillan publishers in this project, said she had tailor-made it for the foundation level after seeing its success in the UK.
She said she trained teachers from various schools "for a few days" in the programme, who then "implemented it in their own schools".
"It's a terrible impairment if a child cannot read at foundation level," she said.
Her programme, found in 64 story books, was "bridging the gap between the school and home", she said.
She was also developing the programme for isiZulu- speaking pupils.
Part of the aim was to improve literacy in poor townships schools, where pupils did not have enough study material, said McCabe.
"The stories are designed for children. Children have a natural affinity for technology," she said.
McCabe said she planned to launch the project on cellphones in order to reach out to millions of South African households, including those in the rural areas.
Technology in education is set to be a big talking point at this year's education convention and learning expo set for September 28 to 30.
Initiative boosts literacy
NEW computerised books have upped literacy levels in about 200 poor primary schools in Western Cape.
The Talking Stories Programme, running in schools across the Cape Flats, allows pupils in Grade 1 to 3 to read colourfully illustrated books in isiXhosa, English or Afrikaans on their school computers.
There are now plans to develop a programme that would allow children to read books on cellphones.
Launched at Bridgeville Primary School in Athlone in 2008, the initiative has increased literacy levels from 35percent to 80percent among Grade 3s.
School head Albert Arendse told Sowetan: "We are living in the modern world of technology. It is a well-designed package for the foundation phase."
Colby Visser, a Grade 3 pupil at the school, was with his classmates on the Talking Stories Programme in the computer laboratory.
"It's fun. We learn a lot of stuff about computers. We learn how to operate them ... how to use them in order to read and write. I love reading books on the computers," Colby said.
Class teacher Rashida Dalvi, who has been in the profession for 34 years, said that "the interactive nature of the programme makes it very effective".
Through the use of sound it also allowed them to listen to a voice read the same story in their mother tongue.
According to programme developer Kathy McCabe, this made it easy for pupils to master English, which is the medium of instruction in most schools.
Literacy levels had improved by 70percent in the province since the programme started, she said.
McCabe, who has partnered with Macmillan publishers in this project, said she had tailor-made it for the foundation level after seeing its success in the UK.
She said she trained teachers from various schools "for a few days" in the programme, who then "implemented it in their own schools".
"It's a terrible impairment if a child cannot read at foundation level," she said.
Her programme, found in 64 story books, was "bridging the gap between the school and home", she said.
She was also developing the programme for isiZulu- speaking pupils.
Part of the aim was to improve literacy in poor townships schools, where pupils did not have enough study material, said McCabe.
"The stories are designed for children. Children have a natural affinity for technology," she said.
McCabe said she planned to launch the project on cellphones in order to reach out to millions of South African households, including those in the rural areas.
Technology in education is set to be a big talking point at this year's education convention and learning expo set for September 28 to 30.