Leveraging our collective wisdom to address the literacy challenge: Literacy Symposium

 

The Literacy Symposium presented the evaluation findings on the flagship Zenex Literacy Pilot Project; and served as a springboard for collaboration between literacy stakeholders across the country, including academics, government officials, NGOs, donors, and M&E practitioners. The event was an opportunity to share lessons and experiences from various literacy programmes and research; candidly reflect on what works and does not work, and identifying synergies and gaps that can be collectively maximised and addressed. See the presentations and report below.

Presentations

 

COMMISSION 1: TEACHER TRAINING

Teacher Training Model; Early Grade Reading Study, National Education Collaboration Trust by Dr Lorraine Marneweck, Class Act

Teacher Training in the Zenex Literacy Project by Sarah Murray, Rhodes University

Funda Wande Programme by Ms Zameka Lubelwana and Dr Nwabisa Makaluza, Funda Wande

Resources for early reading: Supply, delivery, management and use by Ms Tessa Welch, Saide

 

COMMISSION 2: LITERACY COACHING

Coaching as a critical success factor by Ms Adele Ivy & Ms Portia October, New Leaders Foundation.

Early Grade Reading Study by Ms Dorothy Molapo, Class Act.

Early Grade Reading Study by Ms Gina Emacora, Class Act.

National Education Collaboration Trust by Ms Ensel Ubisi, Class Act.

The Jika Imfundo Literacy Coaching Model by Mr Tom Sokhela, Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes.

 

COMMISSION 3: LITERACY RESEARCH

Analysis of key research trends in literacy teaching and learning by Prof. Ursula Hoadley, University of Cape Town.

Adapting EGRA to assess early literacy in three provinces: Lessons from the Zenex Literacy Project (2015-2017) by Prof. Lilli Pretorius, UNISA.

Issues in teaching and learning literacy: Lessons from the Eastern Cape by Dr Brian Ramadiro, Nelson Mandela Institute.

Lessons on using the EGRS in early grade assessment by Ms Nompumelelo Mohohlwane, DBE.

 

PLENARY

Zenex Foundation Literacy Overview by Ms Gail Campbell, Zenex Foundation.

Zenex Literacy Project: Reflections on a pilot by Prof. Johann Mouton and Dr Lauren Wildschut, Evaluation Research Agency.

Complex interventions and the challenges for evaluation design by Prof. Johann Mouton, Evaluation Research Agency.

Lessons learnt in evaluating literacy projects by Mr Dawid-Willem Pienaar, DNA Economics

National Reading Coalition: Supporting the Read to lead initiative by Mr Godwin Khosa, National Education Collaboration Trust.

Download the Zenex Literacy Symposium Report