Focus Areas
The Zenex Foundation has three core focus areas through which it carries out work :

Grade 4 Mathematics Backlogs Project
It is widely known that a large proportion of learners in South Africa perform several grades below their required grade competencies. Research points to learning backlogs starting early in the Foundation Phase.

Evaluation of the Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes Embedding
Introduction The Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes (PILO), works on developing methodologies that contribute to significant and sustainable improvement in the education system. After five years of providing district officials, teachers and School Management teams...

Evaluation of the Base Ten Thinking Project
Introduction The Base Ten Thinking Project arose out of research carried out by the First Rand Foundation Wits Maths Chair which showed that Grade 3 learners were not attaining the mathematical competencies required. Specifically, learners were not progressing from...

Mixed Reality Simulation for Teacher Education Project
Introduction In a highly technology-driven world, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming entrenched in many spheres of learning, including teacher training. The Mixed Reality Simulation (MRS) using Mursion software provides a simulated teaching environment, an...

How Grade 3 learners perceive and use the classroom library: A qualitative case study
How Grade 3 learners perceive and use the classroom library: A qualitative case study This qualitative study examines how seven Grade 3 children in Phahamang Primary School, a school located in Evaton North, perceive and use the books supplied in the Gauteng Classroom...

The Gauteng Classroom Library Project: An evaluation
The Gauteng Classroom Library Project: An evaluation Research has advanced our knowledge of how to improve the teaching of reading in the early grades, but little is known about how to improve one aspect – the teaching of independent reading. To address this, the...

Northern Cape Literacy Scale-up Project
In the quest to find solutions to early-grade literacy challenges, in the past decade the Zenex Foundation has developed and supported five early-grade projects (pilot projects, large-scale proof of concept projects and a few systemic initiatives).

National Reading Culture Barometer
National Reading Culture Barometer Project Introduction Most literacy interventions focus on school-based efforts to improve teaching and learning. However, we also need to understand and improve the ecosystem of literacy in homes and communities. Parents and...

Foundation Phase Curriculum Recovery Project
Foundation Phase Curriculum Recovery Project Introduction The Foundation Phase Curriculum Recovery Project was designed during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when schools were still operating under rotational learning. The project aimed to improve...

Teacher Internship Collaboration South Africa
Teacher Internship Collaboration South Africa (TICZA) Introduction This project supports the second phase of the Teacher Internship Collaboration aimed at improving teaching practice for student-teachers. Prior the initiative, the internship space was fragmented with...