principals
15 August 2006
The open letter to primary-school principals on the importance of reading is
part of our comprehensive strategy of communicating with school officials,
parents and the public, said the Director-General (DG) of Education, Mr Duncan
Hindle today.
The Department published an open letter to principals in a number of
newspapers on the weekend, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised the
publication, calling for an investment in books rather than in advertising.
âIt is not a question of either investing in books or communicating with
principals,â he said. âWe have to do both.â Education departments spend over R1
billion each year on books.
Many teachers believe they do not have to teach reading any more. âWe need
to remind teachers and parents that reading is part of the curriculum and we
can all do more to teach our children to read,â said Hindle.
There has already been an enormous positive response to the open letter from
the public.
Enquires:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
15 August 2006
