04 Nov 2013

When the Reading Challenge initiative was introduced in the Letlhakeng Sub-District, Ngware Primary School became one of the first primary schools in the area where the programme was introduced.

The Reading Challenge is a British Council initiative launched in 2010 by Prince Harry at Mophane Primary School in Gaborone to develop a reading culture among young learners.

The programme was also aimed at supporting English language development and to support parents’ involvement in their children’s English language learning. Ngware Primary School welcomed the programme with the hope that it would help enhance the performance of students, thus improving standard seven results beyond a 55 per cent pass rate.

This is the school where Keneilwe Raokobelwe, a standard five student, got the opportunity to become a shining example of the Reading Challenge initiative. Through this programme, Raokobelwe is able to write her own English poems and recite them for fellow students and teachers.

This exercise has not only improved her reading and writing skills but has also built her confidence and that is why she confidently recited her poem in front of multitudes of people.

Even though schools in cities and towns took part in the Reading Challenge competition held at Pilikwe Primary School in the Central District on Thursday, it was Raokobelwe’s poem that impressed judges. The 10-year-old girl won her school a lap top.

This did not come as a surprise for the headteacher, Mr Robert Tshambani, Raokobelwe made it to the top. “Keneilwe can write her own English poems and can summarise books she has read on her own,” he said.

Mr Tshambani said the programme raised momentum at her school because students were developing interest in reading. “Our students are always eager to share their knowledge with other students and this has built their confidence,” he said. “Once a week, students come together to share what they have read with students from other classes.”

Prior to the introduction of this programme, Mr Tshambani said Ngware students were struggling to read and write English. Because all subjects except Setswana are taught in English, this posed a serious learning challenge resulting in poor results.

With the introduction of this programme, Mr Tshambani is adamant that his school would perform better this year, saying that the school was targeting 60 per cent pass rate. He said this programme has made a tremendous improvement on students’ performance as most students could now read and write English to expected standards.

He said performance at his school was impressive because students have started performing better in other subjects. Prior to that, the students had a fear to read loudly and sometimes even cried when they incurred that challenge. Ends