Basic Education Department to host indaba on early grade reading research<\/P>
The Department of Basic Education will host a two-day Early Grade Reading Research Indaba to address the reading challenges in the basic education sector. From 8-9 June, speakers and panelists from world-leading developmental, research and gov- ernment bodies will contribute insight and thrash out the issues in a bid to chart the way forward regarding reading outcomes in schools.<\/P>
One of South Africa\u2019s biggest developmental challenges is the number of children who cannot read for meaning in the early grades. These children fail to thrive in the foun- dation phase and beyond, with far-reaching consequences for the country as a whole.<\/P>
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has risen to this challenge with the Early Grade Reading Study (EGRS) programme, a series of impact-driven randomised trials conducted in partnership with various developmental and academic institutions.<\/P>
Since 2012, EGRS has generated a wealth of evidence into how best to implement early grade reading support solutions in South African schools. Specifically, an on-site model of paper-based lesson plans and regular in-person coaching visits has deliv- ered robust evidence of sustained impacts on reading outcomes. The challenge is how to implement the model cost-effectively at scale. To address this question, the second Early Grade Reading Study (EGRS 2) was conducted in Mpumalanga from 2017- 2020. Interventions aimed to improve learning in English as a First Additional Lan- guage (EFAL) in grades 1 to 3. The on-site model was compared to an alternative model using electronic tablets preloaded lesson plans, audio and video clips and a specialised \u201cvirtual coach\u201d.<\/P>
The outcomes confirmed the sustainable impact of on-site coaching but found that virtual coaching had little discernible impact: A cost-effective alternative to on-site coaching has yet to be found. All early grade reading stakeholders \u2013 from government, developmental and academic role-players to the parents, teachers and learners on the ground \u2013 are invited to join the Indaba\u2019s live stream(link is external).<\/P>
The Early Grade Reading Research Indaba<\/P>
Can alternative ways of providing professional support to teachers create the same kind of change in teaching practice and learning outcomes as coaching, but at a lower financial cost?<\/P>
Is it more sustainable and effective to intervene in the home language or EFAL? How should parents be involved? What is the optimal use of technology? Where do donors and partners fit in? These are the big questions posed by EGRS 2, answers to which the DBE\u2019s forthcoming Early Grade Reading Research Indaba will seek to find<\/P>
High-impact speakers and topics<\/P>
Session One of the Indaba opens with a key-note address by Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule, followed by high-level reflections and inter- national experience on \u201cThe Importance of Evidence Building\u201d from Muriel Mafico, UNICEF\u2019s Representative in South Africa, Andy Karas, USAID\u2019s Southern Africa Mis- sion Director, and David Evans, senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development.<\/P>
Prof Brahm Fleisch, Professor of Education Policy and Head of the Division of Educa- tion Leadership, Policy and Skills at the Wits School of Education, weighs in on early grade reading in research and practice.<\/P>
In Session Two, Stephen Taylor, DBE Director of Research, Monitoring and Evalua- tion, presents key EGRS findings, and Dr Fatima Adam, Director of Research and Evaluation at the Zenex Foundation, chairs a panel on the international experience of early grade reading.<\/P>
Session Three delves into EGRS findings in detail, as the DBE\u2019s Carol Nuga Deliwe, Nompumelelo Mohohlwane and Lesang Sebaeng as well as other participants ad- dress the specifics of pedagogy and classroom materials and debate the emotive topic of home language versus English.<\/P>
Session Four focuses on \u201cTechnology and Learning Loss\u201d, with input from the DBE\u2019s Prof Martin Gustafsson and Kholosa Nonkenge, Young Impact\u2019s Dr Noam Angrist and The Learning Trust\u2019s Sibongile Khumalo.<\/P>
Session Five concludes the Indaba with a \u201cReflection on Donor Collaboration and Partnership\u201d with Zenex Foundation CEO Gail Campbell, UNICEF SA Education Man- ager Dr Andile Dube, and USAID Education and Youth Team Leader Dr Felicia Wil- son-Young.<\/P>
<\/P>
<\/P>
<\/P>
Source: Government of South Africa<\/P>
<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Basic Education Department to host indaba on early grade reading researchThe Department of Basic Education will host a two-day Early Grade Reading Research Indaba to address the reading challenges in the basic education sector. From 8-9 June, speakers …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n