The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) hosted a World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) celebration which brought together educators, learners, and literacy advocates to promote literacy and to highlight the importance of reading aloud at Holy Cross High School in Mthatha.

The World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) which is an annual event celebrated globally to kick off Reading Aloud Month (February) was a resounding success, inspiring learners and educators to prioritize reading and literacy. Moreover, to raise awareness about the importance of reading aloud and inspire people to make reading a fun and enjoyable experience.

According to Curriculum Management Chief Director, Chulekazi Xundu-Bula, WRAD was started in 2010 by LitWorld a nonprofit organization and the Department enthusiastically embraced WRAD recognizing its potential to drive meaningful change. “Research highlighted the urgent need to address literacy challenges, particularly among learners aged 10 who struggle to read and write or read with meaning. To tackle this issue, we declared February as the Month of World Read Aloud, with the first Wednesday of February dedicated to WRAD” said Xundu-Bula.

Bula also added that in 2022 the Department launched a comprehensive reading strategy built on four key pillars. WRAD event mainly focuses on the fourth pillar – ‘Communication, advocacy, and community involvement’, which brings together parents, learners, education officials, and partners.

"WRAD presents a unique opportunity for our community to come together, take action and acknowledge the critical role that reading plays in shaping minds and empowering individuals. By joining forces, we can make a meaningful difference and create a brighter future for all", added Bula.

Linda Gwele, Chief Education Specialist for Foundation Phase, engaged in a dialogue with some of the partners. The dialogue was intended to share how the partners collaborate with ECDoE in their efforts to promote literacy and particularly promoting reading aloud.

Sinoyolo Qunguwa who is the Provincial Administrator from Nal’ibali which is a reading-for-enjoyment campaign that aims to spark a love of reading among children and caregivers expressed how proud she was to have contributed to WRAD and to be able ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience. “Our approach focuses on oral storytelling, reading and book-sharing which helps to create a culture of reading and storytelling in homes, schools and communities.”

“Schools’ story sessions are indeed a great way to encourage children to develop a love for reading and storytelling. By actively participating in stories, children can improve their language skills, creativity and imagination” added Qungwana.

Learners from different schools around Mthatha showcased their reading skills and demonstrated their language skills by reading aloud a Nal’ibali story to the audience in different languages (Afrikaans, English and IsiXhosa).

Efata Special School grade 6 learner Luthando Gladile was in good spirits and expressed how thrilled he was that he could read with confidence and fluently in front of an audience. “I am happy that our school was also part of today’s celebrations so that others can see that we also love reading and we do it well. Reading out loud is important because if you come across a word that you don’t understand or can’t pronounce, you can be corrected and learn what the word means”, said Gladile.

Achumile Miya a grade 5 learner from Transkei Primary School said that she had enjoyed reading the Afrikaans story out loud and learned a lot from WRAD celebration. “Being different or living with disability does not mean that you are unable to read, today I saw many kids from special schools reading stories very well and with confidence you can do anything”, concluded Miya.