Question 47
Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
Whether her department has initiated any pilot projects to determine the extent to which the remediation of vocabulary deficit was contributing to an overall improvement of learner performance across the curriculum; if not, why not; if so, (a) where was the project initiated and (b) how was this problem successfully overcome?
Reply:
(a) There are no pilot projects that are in place to determine the remediation of vocabulary deficit in learners. If not; why not
(b) Vocabulary is one part of a broad spectrum of aspects to ensure that learners become literate. The Department of Basic Education has put in place various initiatives that address poor performance in Literacy.
These include:
Through the foundations for learning programme teachers have been given clear guidelines on the key aspects to be taught and learnt in each quarter and the minimum time allocation for each aspect; the necessary resources to support teaching and learning and assessment. In addition, the necessary resources such as lesson plans and teaching and learning materials such as charts; books and other manipulative have also been provided.
Furthermore, through the annual national assessments, learner performance is measured each year. The literacy results for 2009 indicate an improvement in Grade 3 scores. In 2011, a full scale evaluation will be conducted to assess the impact of the various initiatives to improve literacy.
The provision of age appropriate reading materials in relevant languages to learners in the early grades through the Drop All and Read project and the partnership with the Sunday Times are other initiatives to inculcate a love for reading in the early years. This is reinforced by the foundations for learning directive for schools to set aside 30 minutes a day for reading for enjoyment.
Provision of access to library and information services through the provision of the guidelines on implementing various models of libraries and also the provision mobile libraries; classroom libraries and centralised school libraries and the relevant materials are also ways in promoting reading and literacy.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
21 May 2010
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
