World Bank Urges Western Cape to Set Bold New Reading Targets
by Schools4SA
World Bank Advocates for Higher Literacy Goals in Western Cape Education
Key Items
- Western Cape's grade 4 literacy rates are alarmingly low.
- Mississippi serves as a successful model for educational improvement.
- Investment in early childhood development is crucial for future success.
The World Bank has strongly urged the Western Cape education department to adopt more ambitious literacy and numeracy targets, drawing inspiration from Mississippi, which transformed its educational outcomes over the past decade. In stark contrast to Mississippi's success, nearly 62% of grade 4 students in the Western Cape were found to be functionally illiterate as of 2021. Despite having scores better than the national average, the region still lags behind global standards, with almost 81% of South African children lacking essential reading skills. The report, which highlights the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on learning, particularly among isiXhosa-speaking schools, underscores the importance of implementing robust early childhood development programs and improving the training efforts for teachers. As many educators are nearing retirement, this presents a unique opportunity to enhance teacher quality while addressing the pressing issue of overcrowded classrooms. Recommendations from the World Bank include investing in new infrastructure and seeking additional funding from private sources to boost education quality in a province in dire need of reform.
The World Bank has recommended the Western Cape education department to emulate the US state of Mississippi in setting ambitious new targets for maths and reading, and track progress towards these goals.
Main Takeaways
- Setting bold reading targets can significantly enhance literacy.
- The education department needs to focus on teacher training and support.
- Engaging with private sector resources may alleviate budget constraints.
Reference:
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/education/2024-09-17-world-bank-urges-western-cape-to-set-bold-new-reading-targets/
