Volunteers teach vital reading skills

THE Michelle McLean Children’s Trust and the South African help2read organisation are training six volunteers from the Karas, Erongo and Khomas regions to get more children to read.

A volunteer spends 30 minutes twice a week with the same child for one year. The help2read teaching approach is based on fun and was initiated four decades ago in Britain. Since 2005 the organisation is working in the Western Cape and now also in Johannesburg. Help2read empowers children with vital literacy skills. Volunteer helpers are trained and placed in local primary schools where they work with children individually. A number of studies conducted in Namibia have indicated low levels of literacy and numeracy in the lower grades one to four. The low levels are also carried over to further phase levels. It is evident from this pattern that the low literacy and numeracy skills negatively affect teaching and learning and render the education system ineffective, according to a statement read on the behalf of Minister of Education Abraham Iyambo. Volunteers receive free training, a box full of books and games and ongoing support once placed at a primary school. People who are interested in becoming a volunteer can contact the trust.