January 23, 2007
By Emily van Rijswijck
JOBURG'S libraries are committed to getting everyone in the city to read. Adult literacy programmes are run at 30 libraries across Johannesburg, and 10 more will be opened by July.
Through these literacy programmes, adults learn functional literacy skills that are necessary for basic day-to-day living. "Our emphasis is on giving learners life skills through functional literacy training," says Cavelle Carmichael, the manager of mobile services projects in Johannesburg's Library and Information Services unit.
Completing forms, counting change and opening an account may not rate as major achievements for most, but for many adults this is an undeveloped but much-needed life-skill. Adult participants in these programmes are taught literacy and numeracy skills in English and other official languages.
Nelly Thahane, the programme facilitator of the Mphatlalatsane Adult Literacy Centre at the Johannesburg Central Library, with avid learner James Mahlobogoane
Johannesburg libraries have been involved with adult literacy for a number of years, Carmichael confirms. Whiskey Monamo, a librarian in Orlando East, started literacy training at her library in 1995, with just five people. In 2006 some 60 individuals received training, of which 13 wrote the Independent Examination Board exams in June. Monamo includes HIV/Aids education in her programme.
Parkhurst library started its programme in 1994. It now has five dedicated volunteer teachers, with about 25 people attending each week. "The social aspect of the class is also enjoyed very much, with lots of interaction between learners and teachers," says librarian Liz Lichter.
In Region G there are five literacy centres - which all boasted a 70 percent pass rate for the 2006 exams - and an annual walk to promote literacy and reading. The next walk takes place on Saturday, 31 March at 8am; it begins at Lenasia Extension 1 library.
James Mahlobogoane started his quest for literacy in 2003 at the Mphatlalatsane Adult Literacy Centre at Johannesburg Central Library. A general cleaner at the library, he left school in standard two. "I wanted to learn to write, to talk," he says, smiling.
"Today, James is writing forever," says Nellie Thahane, the programme facilitator. Whenever he has a moment Mahlobogoane can be found at the literacy lab practising his writing, she says. Mahlobogoane says he wants to start his own literacy project in Limpopo when he retires.
"[Literacy] gives people confidence," Thahane points out. They can open their own accounts, sign their own forms at the bank and select their own groceries from the vast number of brands available.
Thahane started the first literacy drive for general workers of the central library in February 2002. Overhearing a chance conversation between two cleaners in the children's library in 2001 jolted her into action. "I heard the one cleaner complaining about the boring nature of dusting books all day," she explains. Her fellow cleaner commented: "Get used to it. You are here for this dusty job. You are going to do it from today till you die."
These words affected Thahane strongly, and she felt she had to do something to better their lives.
Almost five years later the library now runs a committed literacy programme, teaching reading, writing and numeracy skills to residents across Johannesburg. Up to 80 people can be accommodated at a time, using a computer-generated programme consisting of four proficiency levels. People from as far as Soweto and Ekurhuleni have attended her classes, Thahane says.
There is no time limit set on completing the different levels. Sometimes people drop-out of training, only to return a year later. Students face many hurdles and often have to stop the programme because of transport problems, unemployment or new employment responsibilities. But nobody is ever turned away, she adds.
The literacy skills of the applicant are assessed before they begin, to find the best level for them to start. The programme is flexible and there are no hard and fast rules. "Learning takes time," she says, summing up the centre's basic approach.
For many people illiteracy is a sensitive issue, of which they feel ashamed. This leads to self-imposed barriers, according to Carmichael.
Human development
With the 2030 vision of a world-class city in mind, Johannesburg aims to eradicate illiteracy through its human development strategy. But empowering adults is not the only target - City libraries offer a wide range of programmes for toddlers, senior citizens and any age group in between, including the most marginalised street children.
A number of the programmes are run continuously, such as an early childhood development (ECD) reading programme that targets nursery and pre-school children. There are 58 ECD centres in the seven regions aimed at exposing children from communities without a reading culture to books and stories.
A Battle of the Books and Story Skirmish for primary school learners also take place each year. Region B's De La Salle School won the Battle of the Books in 2006 and Mambo Primary School from Region D won the Story Skirmish competition.
The Stem Campaign – an acronym for science, technology, engineering and maths – is aimed at school learners from Grade 6 onwards and runs throughout the year to encourage children to study these four disciplines.
Illiteracy is a worldwide problem, with almost one billion people unable to read and write. Of those, 64 percent are woman, a Global Monitoring Report found in 2006. Being illiterate carries an unfortunate legacy: individuals are vulnerable to exploitation by others and usually face extreme poverty. South Africa's Census 2001 found that one in three adults, aged 20 or older, had not completed primary school or had no schooling at all.
Thahane feels a contributing factor has been the legacy of apartheid. The other most important contributing factor is cultural, she says. "Many cultures considered educating girl-children unnecessary."
Carmichael says this is exactly where the library literacy programmes aim to be different. "Our short term goal is to teach adults to read and write. Our long term goal is family literacy." The whole family becomes involved in a culture of reading as the newly literate parents are encouraged to read to their children.
Gauteng has one of the lowest illiteracy rates in the country – just over 8 percent of adults are considered illiterate, compared to Limpopo where more than a third of adults are illiterate. According to Statistics South Africa, in Joburg 7 percent of individuals 18 years and older have no schooling.
But in the end a percentage tag - whether small or large - should not be put on literacy – the cost of ignorance will always remain high to those affected, according to the national Department of Education. The department has set aside R11-million for 2007-08 for its South African National Literacy Initiative.
Singobile Khoza, Goliath Kambia and Didier Baleka work on a computer-based literacy programme as facilitator Nelly Thahane stands ready to help
The Global Campaign for Education found that dealing with adult illiteracy lead to the development of active citizenship, improved health and livelihood, and gender equality. But the campaign cautions that literacy programmes have to be sustained if they are to give lasting benefit to individuals.
Thahane agrees with this sentiment. "At the literacy centre we have to concentrate on life-long learning. We encourage and support book clubs and family literacy projects."
A lot of initiatives are good, she says, "but there is no follow-through and commitment from the programme unit". In the end it depends on the facilitator and the regional manager, she says.
Sue McMurray, the manager of development projects in the Library and Information Services unit, finds staffing costs are the biggest expense at libraries and many adult literacy programmes are run by volunteers only.
There are more than 80 loan libraries within Johannesburg's seven regions. Most people hear about the literacy programmes through word of mouth or by way of community radio.
Early childhood development centres
Early childhood development programmes target children in day-care centres, at crèches and nursery schools who do not have access to books. There are ECD centres at the following places:
Region A: Diepsloot
Diepsloot Community Loving and Care Centre
Diepsloot Pre-School
Hippy
House of Glory
Muzomuhle Pre-School
Siphiwe Pre-School
Region B: Riverlea
Alpha
Busy Bees
Honey Bunch
LGS Dynamics
TC Esterhuisen
Region C: Davidsonville
Davey Ducks
Grace Edu-Care Centre
Kiddies Paradise Day Care
Kideo Day-Care
Mmabana Day Care
Tshepison
Empilisweni Pre-Day Care
Region D: Klipspruit West
Childcare and Orientation Centre
Family Centre
Feed My Lambs Crèche
Paseo Day Care
Diepkloof Zone 5
Land of Joy Day Care
Matshaba Day Care
Ubuhle Bemfundo Day Care
Ujama School of Excellence
Klipspruit
Dawn Day Care
Kiddy's Day Care
Leratong Pre-School
Sizanani Day Care
Region E: Savoy
Bramley Nursery
Frontier Star Crèche
Holy Trinity Crèche
Ububele
Alexandra
Alex Outreach
Karabo Early Learning Centre
Kgodisong Day Care
Linamo Day Care
St Martin Pre-School
Thembalethu Crèche
Tshimologo Pre-School
Ukukhanya Kwezwe
Region F: Hillbrow
Berea Primary School
Hillbrow
Johannesburg Girls Prep
Lapeng Child Family Resource Centre
South Hills
Cynthia's Day Care
Graceland Nursery School
Little Penguins
Rosehill Nursery School
Region G: Orange Farm
Emmanuel Pre-School
Ikageng Community Day Care
Nonceba Pre-School
Nqobile Foster Care
Ennerdale Ext 1
Mthandazo Day Care
Thabong Day Care
Thembelihle Day Care
Zenzele Day Care
Adult literacy centres
Adult literacy programmes target adults who are functionally illiterate. There are adult literacy centres at the following places:
Region B
Parkhurst Library
Region G
Lenasia Ext 1 Library
Orange Farm Library
Ennerdale Ext 9 Library
Poortjie Library
Mountainview Primary School
Region F
Mphatlalatsane Adult Literacy Centre
Johannesburg Central Library
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