Children who grow up with books around them learn to think of books as friends and allies in their pursuit of adventure and learning.
This was the key message at the Literacy For Life Day held by the Principals Academy Trust and an asset-management company, at Sonwabo Primary School, in Gugulethu, last Thursday.
The pupils took part in a spelling bee as well as reading and poetry competitions. It was all part of efforts to promote foundation-phase literacy after the interruptions of the pandemic.
The company’s head of marketing, Wendy Becker, said reading helped to develop an open and curious mind.
“Through our reading initiatives and other programmes we have created in the school, we have seen a massive improvement in the school’s academic performance,” she said.
Principal Sandile Mayeki said such partnerships were critical in helping pupils improve their academic performance as teachers alone could not solve the education crisis in the country.
René Sinclaire, from the Principals Academy Trust, said it was founded by retired principals to share their experience at disadvantaged schools. It believed that the principal was the lever for change in every school.
Ms Sinclaire said they wanted to spark an interest in reading among the pupils and equip teachers and principals to develop a love of reading in their pupils. The focus was on getting children to read with meaning and understanding.
