11 February, 2019
Duncan Village, Eastern Cape
In resource and text poor settings, building children’s relationship with reading and writing requires providing positive experiences with reading and writing both inside and outside of the classroom. Phemba Mfundi is a long-term initiative of the Nelson Mandela Institute to develop innovative ways to support children to read and write for real reasons – both inside and outside of the classroom.
Today we launched a new Phemba Mfundi programme at Masakhe Primary School in Duncan Village. By bringing the programme closer to the University of Fort Hare, the programme will provide an opportunity for education students to participate, giving them hands-on experience working with small groups of children to build bilingual (isiXhosa and English) reading and writing.
Today clubs were launched today — one for Grade 4 and 5 learners and the other for Grade 6 and 7 learners. Currently 30 education students (primary from the first year cohort) facilitate the programme. Each student is responsible for facilitating a weekly literacy club and participating in a weekly reflection meeting of facilitators to improve practice.
By the end the year the goal is to complete an anthology of children’s writing, and launch a school magazine written by learners.
“Phemba Mfundi provides students with rare opportunities – particularly how to form strong relationships with learners that create the love of education – the love of reading and writing. Students are equipped with skills and experience of dealing with the real challenges that children have in learning to read and write.”
Qhama Zondeka, student facilitator.