Young readers took part in the Siyakholwa Reading and Writing Club reading competition on Friday, held at Floradale Primary School, in East London’s Nompumelelo township.
Pupils ranged from grade R to grade 3, with 12 representing the club competing against 12 pupils from the school.
Club orgagniser, Mbulelo Bokwe said sometimes it was only gets noticed in the intermediate phase that children could not read properly.
“Through this reading club, I want the children to see the importance of reading and develop the culture of reading from an early age,” Bokwe said.
There to judge the young competitors was the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development (NMI).
NMI language and literacy practitioner, Bomikazi Njoloza said that they had been in full support of the club since its inception.
“We believe in creating alternative bases for learning and the club fits this criteria. When children are in a reading club, their reading gets better and they are also better able to contextualise,” Njoloza said.
Njoloza added said they had assessed by looking at pronunciation, spatial orientation and audibility, among others.
Having worked with the Community Police Forum (CPF) and the school’s school governing body (SGB), it helped Bokwe understand the community.
“I also volunteered for six years at the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development and wondered I realised that I’m assisting and also what I could do for my community,” said Bokwe.
The club also helps children with reading problems – aimed at those aged between four and 13.
