Building Strong Foundations: Early-Grade Literacy in South Africa with DBE's Kulula Manona скачать в хорошем качестве

Building Strong Foundations: Early-Grade Literacy in South Africa with DBE's Kulula Manona

Kulula Manona, Chief Director for Foundations for Learning at the Department of Basic Education, shares insights on strengthening foundational literacy in South Africa. The discussion highlights the importance of early-grade literacy in children’s mother tongue, emphasizing the critical first 1,000 days and the following 1,000 days for optimal brain development. Key themes include the collaborative ecosystem supporting literacy, involving book developers, professional development providers, libraries, universities, civil society, and donors, all working together to translate education policy into classroom practice. A major policy shift moved Early Childhood Development (ECD) from the Department of Social Development to the DBE, allowing targeted support during children’s formative years. The conversation stresses that teacher capacity and ongoing professional development are central to implementing literacy policies effectively. Universities are also adapting BEd programs to prepare teachers for multilingual classrooms, ensuring research-driven, evidence-based approaches guide literacy initiatives. Overall, the dialogue underscores that building strong early foundations and fostering collaboration across the literacy ecosystem are key to ensuring children succeed academically and thrive in a multilingual South Africa.