September is National Literacy Month, a time to reflect on the critical importance of literacy in shaping the future of our children and communities. In South Africa, the state of literacy is alarming. According to the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), a staggering 78% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning. This literacy crisis places children at a significant disadvantage, particularly those in under-resourced communities.

At Masicorp, we believe that education is the key to ending poverty, and literacy is at the core of this mission. Through our various literacy programmes, we are making meaningful strides toward improving literacy rates among primary school learners in Masiphumelele and the surrounding areas.

Our literacy programmes provide tailored support, giving children the tools to improve their reading and writing skills. Here are some of the success stories from our programmes.

Success Stories from Masicorp’s Literacy Programmes

English Hub at Ukhanyo Primary School

The English Hub has been pivotal in helping Grade 3 learners develop both reading and writing skills. This term, we’ve shifted some of our focus to sentence construction and paragraph writing, helping learners build confidence in their writing abilities.One of the most rewarding moments this year has been witnessing students who previously struggled with writing begin to enjoy the process. Even those who found it difficult are now showing excitement and commitment when building their sentences.

“It’s been thrilling to witness the focus and enthusiasm of the children when building their sentences. We’re really happy with their progress and hope to continue building confidence in this area.”

Masifunde Programme at Ukhanyo Primary

Our Masifunde Programme focuses on creating a love for reading among Grade 5 students. One memorable session involved reading a magical story called “The Land of the Dinosaurs.” It sparked a lively conversation among the students, many of whom are still developing their English language skills.

During the discussion, a Grade 5 learner amazed the group by confidently identifying a dinosaur as a herbivore. This led to a broader conversation about carnivores and omnivores, showcasing the children’s growing vocabulary and their love for learning.

“All indications of these kids’ love of knowledge and of words!”

English Please at Sun Valley Primary – Success Story

Our English Please Programme is run at schools such as Sun Valley, Simons Town, and Fish Hoek Primary. At Sun Valley Primary, one standout success involved four Grade 3 learners who improved their English results by more than 20% in just six months.

As a result of their hard work and progress, they were able to graduate from the programme early, much to the delight of their teachers and the Head of Learning Support.

“The teachers and Head of Learning Support were delighted with this.”

In addition to these classroom-based programmes, we run Tuesdays with Books at the Masi Library. This initiative fosters a love for reading by allowing children to explore new books in a relaxed, supportive environment. These efforts, coupled with our school programmes, are working to reverse the literacy crisis in Masiphumelele one child at a time.

As we celebrate National Literacy Month in South Africa, we are incredibly proud of the strides made through our literacy programmes, but we also acknowledge that much work remains to be done. With your continued support, we can expand these initiatives and reach even more children in the years to come.

Together, we can ensure that every child in Masiphumelele has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive through the power of literacy.

If you would like to support our literacy programmes or find out more about how you can get involved, visit www.masicorp.org

Let’s work together to end the literacy crisis and build a brighter future for South Africa’s children.