Boosting literacy
Fri, 1 April 2011
- “‘I like the library, because it keeps me busy all the time and I use it to do my homework, class work and it teaches me about many things in the world.” - Grade 9 learner*
Six Months Later: Ncemaneni Container Library Project
Library resources boosts literacy
Between March and June of 2010, the Ncemaneni Library was established at Ncemaneni Combined school in rural KwaZulu Natal. The library gives the learners from the school access to isiZulu and English books, and also serves as a resource for adults undertaking Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) courses. This report looks at the impact of the project six months on.
Use
- An average of 110 library books are borrowed by learners on a monthly basis.
- More girls are therefore using the library, even though there are more boys than girls at the school.
- Teachers incorporate materials available in the library into their projects, assignments and research. This is done with the knowledge that learners have full access to this information.
- 22 ABET students made use of the library facilities. An additional 9 community members, who were not part of the ABET programme also made use of the literary resources.
Results
- Since the opening of the library, the school has observed an upward trend in both English and isiZulu marks. A sample of high-achieving learners showed an average of 14% in English marks, while a sample of lower achieving learners showed an average increase of 13% in isiZulu and 11% in English.
- Of the ABET learners who took tests, 16 were able to read isiZulu with few mistakes while another 13 read with no mistakes.
- In both 2008 and in 2009, 22 ABET learners were assessed on numeracy, reading and writing. The number of passing learners went from 11 to 17 in the two years which is a 27% increase.
Investing in literacy
Remote areas of South Africa face a severe shortage of resources like libraries, making it difficult to improve literacy in these areas. Through the Ncemaneni Library project, learners are provided with access to reading material and an opportunity to develop their language and reading skills. The library also served as a resource for ABET students whose pass rate improved significantly during the implementation of the project. With limited access to reading resources prior to this initiative, the Ncemaneni Library is a valuable resource for the school and the extended community.
