The programme aims to improve learner’s reading proficiency levels in the foundation phase. Interventions in the foundation phase have the most significant impact on learning outcomes in the long term.
The department will provide an early grade reading assessment tool to assist teachers in measuring, at different intervals, the reading progress made by learners in grades 1 to 3. It will also provide toolkits (teacher guides and learner assessment charts) and teacher training and support material, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the tool in a sample of schools nationally.
The early grade reading assessment is expected to be expanded incrementally over the medium term, from 1 000 schools in 2016/17 to 5 000 schools in 2018/19 and 8 000 schools in 2019/20, in all official languages. R39 million has been allocated over the MTEF period for the implementation of the early grade reading assessment tool in the Curriculum Implementation and Monitoring subprogramme in the Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring programme.
