A new book on strategies addressing the comprehensive reading crisis in South African schools was recently published, including contributions from multiple Stellenbosch University (SU) researchers.
This is according to Professor Michael le Cordeur, an SU emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education, who contributed to and edited the book.
“Everyone in South Africa is aware of the fact that our learners can’t read for comprehension,” said Le Cordeur. “In fact, 82% of our learners in grade four cannot read for meaning, cannot read with understanding. That was the idea behind the book.”
Reading for Comprehension was launched on 20 May at the GG Cillié education building on the SU campus, which SMF News attended.
A new book, Reading for Comprehension, was recently launched at the GG Cillié education building on the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus, which SMF News attended. The book addresses various issues pertaining to the inability of South African school learners to read with understanding, according to Professor Michael le Cordeur, an SU emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education, who contributed to and edited the book. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
A national crisis of reading
The 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) ranked South Africa’s school-age learners last out of 64 countries for reading achievement. 81% of South African Grade 4 learners were unable to reach the lowest benchmark, indicating an inability to read with comprehension, according to the study.
South African Grade 4 learners were ranked last for reading achievement out of 64 participating countries in the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. A new book that was recently launched by the Stellenbosch University (SU) faculty of education aims to address the crisis of comprehensive reading in South African schools, according to Professor Michael le Cordeur, an SU emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education. INFOGRAPHIC: Lienke Norval
“The book provides guidelines for teachers, teacher educators and students to address the reading comprehension challenges faced by South African learners,” said Professor Carisma Nel, a research professor at the North-West University School for Language Education, in email correspondance with SMF News.
“However, this book is more than a collection of strategies,” she said. “It is a call to action for a more just and literate world.”
A team effort
Eight SU masters and doctoral students contributed research to the book, which covers a range of issues linked to teaching and reading in South African schools over the course of ten chapters, said Le Cordeur.
Eight Stellenbosch University (SU) researchers contributed to a new book that provides actionable strategies to combat the reading crisis faced by South African school learners, according to Professor Michael le Cordeur, an SU emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education. The co-authors presented a panel discussion at the book’s launch, which SMF News attended. From left to right: Le Cordeur, Zelda Barends, Mitchell Messina, Annine Scultz, Jean-Alex Gerber, Jana Nel and Maylene Basson. Two of the co-authors, Mia Nieuwoudt and Lindiwe Tshuma, attended the panel via video call. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
“My chapter focuses on the link between language, words, vocabulary and mathematical performance,” said Jean-Alex Gerber, a co-author of Reading for Comprehension, who completed her MEd at SU in 2023 and is now a teacher at Meridian Pinehurst High School.
Learners easily say that they cannot do maths because numbers are not their strong suit, but often the problem is rather that they cannot understand the questions because they are not reading with comprehension, said Gerber.
“In the last chapter, I argue that reading is the responsibility of every teacher. Doesn’t matter what subject you are teaching, doesn’t matter in what grade you are teaching,” said Le Cordeur. “This must be a nationwide and a national approach if we want to succeed.”
“Every school needs a copy of this book for the library,” said Dr Mvula Yoyo, a board member of the Stigting vir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans, who attended the launch of Reading for Comprehension.
Reading for Comprehension, a new book addressing South African school learners’ reading struggles, was recently published by Naledi Books, according to Professor Michael le Cordeur, a Stellenbosch University emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education, who contributed to and edited the book. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
Reading for Comprehension was officially launched on 20 May by the Stellenbosch University (SU) faculty of education. Professor Michael le Cordeur, SU emeritus professor and researcher at the faculty of education, and Jana Nel, junior lecturer at the SU department of curriculum studies, provide more insight into the new book to which they both contributed. VIDEO: Lienke Norval