Make Reading Count: Learners lead the way in tackling South Africa’s reading crisis

In an inspiring display of youth-led action and global citizenship, learners from the Maths and Science Leadership Academy (MSLA) in Kimberley have launched a powerful initiative aimed at addressing South Africa’s Grade 4 reading crisis.

Under the banner of “Make Reading Count”, the project was initiated by four Grade 11 learners who represented South Africa at the prestigious Pan African Youth Leadership Programme (PAYLP) in the United States in April 2023. Upon returning, they were challenged to demonstrate their leadership through a community outreach initiative. Their response was both practical and impactful.

The MSLA PAYLP team spearheaded the “Make Reading Count” pilot project as part of the school’s Global Citizenship Education (GCED) programme. Their mission: to combat the high levels of learning poverty among Grade 4 learners by training parents and teachers to teach children how to read for meaning.

The team began by engaging with school principals and Grade 4 parents from four primary schools in Kimberley. Meetings were held to raise awareness about the reading crisis, and parents were encouraged to volunteer for training. The learners, now acting as “student teachers”, underwent training by Adrienne Van Wyk, a former MSLA learner and an experienced Foundation Phase educator at Flamingo Primary School.

From 19 to 22 June 2023, 74 Grade 11 students worked in teams to train 68 parents, teachers, and a school principal in a five-step method designed to teach reading for comprehension. The training also introduced the Funda Wande app, an interactive educational tool that supports literacy development through stories, games, and comprehension exercises.

The learners didn’t stop there.

Their initiative reached over 111 Grade 4 learners during demonstration lessons filled with music, engagement, and practical reading activities. Using materials like food recipes, newspaper adverts, and the app, the children were shown that reading can be both accessible and fun.

The project’s momentum carried into the winter holidays. During the MSLA Grade 10 Winter Academy, the original PAYLP team trained 79 Grade 10 learners, expanding the network of youth ready to make a difference.

In October 2023, the MRC project continued to grow with Saturday literacy and numeracy sessions that incorporated Virtual Reality (VR) to deepen the learning experience. A total of five primary schools took part over two weekends, with 36 Grade 10 and 11 learners working with 118 Grade 4 learners in these expanded sessions.

By 2024, the initiative had reached even further. A new cohort of 58 Grade 11 learners extended the programme to six primary schools, teaching 139 Grade 4 learners over two days. The focus remained on literacy, numeracy, and immersive digital learning experiences.

And now in 2025, the MSLA programme is continuing its work with passion. On Wednesday and Thursday, 77 Grade 9 learners taught 180 Grade 4 learners from Diamantveld Primary, Flamingo Primary, Montshiwa Primary, West End Primary, Molehabangwe Primary, and Roodepan Primary, as well as Pescodia, how to read with meaning, do math, and problem solve. The opportunity was provided for all Grade 9 to 11 learners to volunteer in community outreach programmes like MSLA, and many have put up their hands to help others younger than them.

On Wednesday, the first batch of Grade 4 learners was taken in. Three of the teachers involved were once learners who began their journey with MSLA under the guidance of Anne McLean and have since completed their matric. They are now returning as volunteers, using their own time to teach Grade 4 learners the importance of reading, mathematics, and critical thinking.

The MSLA learners have shown that when equipped with the right tools and support, young people can play a crucial role in addressing the country’s most pressing educational challenges. Their efforts not only improve reading skills among younger learners but also promote a culture of active citizenship and leadership.

The success of the Make Reading Count project proves that real change starts with empowered individuals, and in this case, it started with one woman who refused to let young minds fall behind and a group of determined grade 9-11 high school learners who refused to accept the status quo.