Download PDFSouth Africa is facing a serious reading and writing crisis among learners. This was supported by the recently published 2023 report of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assessment. It revealed that learners in grade 4 could not read for meaning. The findings have raised concerns about the state of literacy in the country.
As part of promoting a culture of reading and writing, the Jozi Book Fair (JBF) conducts weekly reading sessions at schools in the Johannesburg inner-city, as well as at orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) centres around Soweto.
The programme employs different methodologies to help learners understand, enjoy, and engage with the readings. These includes using pictures, storytelling, paired reading, debates, presentations, art, and creative writing to encourage learners to think critically.
Quiz games, spelling activities, and comprehension exercises are also used to ensure that no learner is left behind during the sessions.
The JBF reading sessions are an extension of the school curriculum designed to help learners better understand their schoolwork and prepare effectively for their tests and examinations. The programme is a safe space where learners can ask questions, express themselves freely, learn as a collective, and understand social issues affecting their lives.
Topics covered for Poetry Buddies (PBs) – primary school learners include the importance of libraries, embracing uniqueness, saying no to bullying, breaking the silence, and children’s rights. Topics covered for Tshohang Batjha (TBs) – high school learners include inequality, understanding the Constitution and Bill of Rights, bullying, teenage pregnancy, capitalism, the significance of 16 June, and the meaning of education for liberation.
Through these topics learners develop a better understanding of the world around them, improve their reading and understanding, strengthen their critical thinking skills, and learn the importance of working together. They are also taught the values of care, solidarity, friendship, and respect for others to promote inclusivity, especially towards those who may be different from them.
This article was submitted on 31 May 2026. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
