The Indaba Institute, a South African education institute based in Stellenbosch, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in addressing the nation’s literacy and numeracy crisis.
A recent survey brought a ray of hope by revealing that young children from the disadvantaged Kayamandi township have achieved exceptional literacy scores, dramatically outstripping their peers nationally.
According to the survey, children aged four and five enrolled in early childhood development (ECD) centres where CoRE-trained teachers are employed scored an impressive 94% in “Emergent Literacy Language.”
This figure starkly contrasts with the Western Cape average of 71% and the national average of just 54.7%. Furthermore, in the realm of “Emergent Numeracy and Mathematics,” these youngsters attained 57%, notable compared to 47% and 33.9% in the Western Cape and nationally, respectively.
It is explained that this data showcases a positive deviance of between 10-40%, underscoring the significance of these findings, especially from a community representing quintile one and two learners.
The alarming statistics surrounding literacy and numeracy in South Africa have been the subject of widespread concern.
The 2021 Thrive by Five Index reported that 57% of preschool children in the country fail to thrive by age five, with only 43% commencing formal education with adequate foundational skills. In this challenging landscape, the Indaba Institute stands out as a beacon of hope.
André Shearer, founder and chairman of Indaba, elaborated on the significance of their Community-Rooted Education (CoRE) initiative. Shearer details that rather than employing a traditional, “top-down” lecturing approach, the CoRE program empowers local female teachers to transform education in their own communities.
He said by harnessing local culture and resources, these educators are able to inspire collective investment in quality ECD education even amidst poverty.
“These promising and impressive outcomes reflect the positive impact of CoRE, as teachers have clearly been empowered to enhance their children’s abilities in the two key metrics driving the devastating academic outcomes in South Africa’s education system—numeracy and literacy,” stated Shearer.
The survey, conducted by Data Drive 2030 using the Early Learning Outcome Measures (ELOMs) assessment tool, aligns with the benchmarks set by the Thrive by Five Index.
This highlights the growing gaps in foundational learning and emphasises Indaba's commitment to bettering the prospects of children in marginalised communities.
Shearer further reflected on the implications of these results, emphasising the potential for systemic change through grassroots empowerment.
“Indaba has demonstrated how this can be achieved with the CoREprogram. The implications of the results we've managed to achieve in the ELOMs are nothing short of a revelation. If you look at the literacy and numeracy crisis in South Africa, it is unprecedented and it threatens the future well-being of our society.”
The survey results serve not only as an affirmation of Indaba's approaches but also as a call to action for a deeper intervention strategy.
While the outcomes are encouraging, educators remain committed to addressing challenges related to fine and gross motor skills development in impoverished ECD centres, where access to safe play spaces and necessary resources is limited.
Saturday Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za