Mpho Mosala, a Sesotho home language teacher at Letlotlo Naledi Primary School in Bothaville, Free State, has been recognized for her outstanding teaching methods at the 26th National Teaching Awards. Mosala recommends that daily reading become a routine in classrooms to address the country's illiteracy crisis. Her approach involves making reading a continuous activity, rather than relying solely on twice-yearly formal assessments. This method has led to her pupils becoming more proactive in class, asking critical questions, and sharing books across different grade levels.
Mosala's teaching methods have yielded impressive results, with her pupils showing improved comprehension and a love for reading. She achieves this by stocking reading corners with texts in Sesotho and English, providing pupils with a wide variety of reading materials. This exposure to different languages and texts has helped her pupils develop critical thinking skills and build their confidence in reading. Mosala's dedication to her pupils extends beyond formal lessons, as she collaborates with a local NPO to support children facing learning barriers.
Mosala's commitment to her pupils' education goes beyond the classroom, as she continues to track their progress even after they move to high school. Her approach is centered around building strong relationships with her pupils, whom she considers her "kids." Mosala's background, having been raised by her grandmother and growing up on a social grant, has influenced her teaching style and informed her understanding of the challenges faced by her pupils.
The education department has taken note of Mosala's success and is strengthening its rollout of new measures to improve early grade reading. The department is focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy, with plans to train 10,000 foundation phase teachers during the 2026/2027 financial year. This initiative aims to spread successful teaching practices across the education system and improve literacy rates among South African pupils.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attended the National Teaching Awards, emphasized the importance of sharing successful teaching practices across the education system. He acknowledged that the government needs to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, and that good practice should not remain a secret. Ramaphosa's comments highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing illiteracy in South Africa.
The country's illiteracy crisis is highlighted by recent data, which shows that 81% of grade 4 pupils fail to reach the lowest international benchmark for reading comprehension. A survey by the basic education department found that only 31% of grade 1 pupils reached the home language benchmark of 40 correct letter sounds a minute. These statistics underscore the need for innovative teaching methods, like Mosala's, to be scaled up and shared across the education system.
Key points
- Mpho Mosala's teaching methods have led to improved literacy rates and a love for reading among her pupils.
- The South African education department is strengthening its rollout of new measures to improve early grade reading, including training 10,000 foundation phase teachers.
- The country's illiteracy crisis is a significant challenge, with 81% of grade 4 pupils failing to meet the lowest international benchmark for reading comprehension.
