South Africa

Improving how children learn to read and write 

Room to Read works directly in schools to train educators and improve literacy curricula for grades 1, 2 and 3 through data-driven approaches that measurably improve students’ skills. Room to Read’s learning resources are specifically designed around the various African languages and dialects and accommodate learning strategies appropriate for early-grade learners. Given the complex structure of words in some African languages, teachers encourage students to use their arms to practice sounding out syllables by tracking each sound along their arms, building words from their shoulders toward their hands. To ensure teachers are supported by strategies and guides like this, Room to Read literacy facilitators train and provide ongoing coaching on best practices, following Room to Read’s best-in-class materials.  

Preparing teachers to be effective instructors

Improving teachers’ skills and knowledge, especially before they enter the classroom, transforms learning outcomes for generations of students. Room to Read trains educators at the local and national levels, ensuring teachers are supported with the resources and expertise they need to build strong literacy skills in all children.

In 2023, Room to Read and the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria partnered to deliver several lectures to university students pursuing bachelor of education degrees. These lectures — some of which were attended by upwards of 300 pre-service teachers — are centered on building future educators’ skills in early-grade reading. Initial feedback from these trainings was incredibly positive, opening opportunities for Room to Read to continue delivering similar sessions to pre-service teachers across South Africa. 

Increasing access to quality children’s books 

To ensure more children benefit from books written in their local language, Room to Read trains local authors and illustrators to develop and publish a wider range of books, ensuring children can access stories that interest them and in languages they understand. These publishing efforts incorporate methods like developing more decodable stories, which offer tools like rhymes and repetitive words to help children comprehend the letters and sounds they practice in class. 

Advocating for systemic change 

Room to Read demonstrates best practices that can be scaled and adopted nationally. Our work stands apart in the education sector for being preventive rather than reactive, driving positive changes in education systems. We establish demonstration schools that showcase our programs to local district and provincial governments so they can learn best practices. And we work alongside government partners to improve national educational standards and guidelines and strengthen primary school curricula.