Exploring reading barriers among foundation phase learners in IsiXhosa home language in Lady Frere district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore reading barriers of Foundation Phase learners in IsiXhosa Home Language in the Lady Frere district in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP). The qualitative single case study of one Junior Secondary school in the chosen district was studied. The empirical research was done through interviews with the teachers and lesson observations. The findings suggested that there was some concern with regards to the reading ability of learners in the District. The lack of parental involvement, high turnover of teachers, lack of training and support of teachers were identified as attributing factors to reading barriers of learners. Measures to address these factors were suggested. The measures included capacity building of teachers, parents or care givers of learners, and ways of retaining teachers in schools to reduce the high turnover of staff. In conclusion, it is anticipated that the findings and recommendations of this study will provide valuable contribution to the district officials to be able to address the teaching and learning gaps and empower and support both teachers and learners in the Eastern Cape Province.

Die doel van hierdie studie was om leeshindernisse van leerders in die Grondslagfase, met Xhosa as huistaal, in die Lady Frere distrik in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie te ondersoek. Die kwalitatiewe, enkele gevallestudie het die bestudering van een Junior Sekondêre skool in die gekose distrik behels. Die empiriese navorsing is gedoen deur onderhoude met die onderwysers te voer en deur waarnemings van lesse. Die bevindings dui daarop dat daar kommer bestaan oor die leesvermoë van leerders in die distrik. Afwesige ouerbetrokkenheid, die hoë omset van onderwysers en die gebrek aan voldoende opleiding en ondersteuning aan onderwysers word identifiseer as die moontlike oorsake van leeshindernisse van leerders. Maatreëls om die faktore wat leeshindernisse veroorsaak aan te spreek, is voorgestel. Die maatreëls behels onder meer kapasiteitsbou van onderwysers, ouers of versorgers van leerders, asook maniere om onderwysers in skole te behou en sodoende die hoë personeelomset te verminder. Ten slotte, die verwagting is dat die bevindings en aanbevelings van hierdie studie ‘n waardevolle bydrae aan die distriksbeamptes sal lewer om die leemtes vir voldoende onderrig en leer te kan aanpak en sodoende beide onderwysers en leerders in die Oos- Kaap te bemagtig en te ondersteun.

Injongo yoluphando yayikukuphonononga izithintelo kufunda zamabanga aphantsi kulwimi lwasekhaya lwesiXhosa kwisithili saseCacadu kwiphondo laseMpuma-Koloni. Kwaphononongwa isifundo secala elinye elinoqeqesho kwisikiolo samabanga aphakathi kwisithili esikhethiweyo. Kwenziwa uphando olunamandla kusetyenziswa udliwanondlebe nootitshala kunye nokujonga. Iziphumo zabonisa ukuba kukho ukuxhalaba ngendlela abafundi besithili esikhethiweyo babefunda ngayo. Oko kwakudalwa kukungazibandakanyi kwabazali emfundweni yabantwana babo, ukutshintsha nokushiya kootitshala izikolo nesebe lezemfundo ngokubanzi nokunqongophala koqeqesho nenkxaso yootitshala. Kwacetyiswa amadondolo okulungisa imiba echaphazela iingxaki zokufunda . Lamadondolo ayecebisa ukuba kujongwane nemiceli mingeni eyayisele iboniwe, enje ngophuhliso lweetitsshala, abazali okanye abagcini bantwana, iindlela zokugcina abasebenzi ezikolweni, ukunciphisa ukutshintsha izikolo nokuyeka ukufundisa kootitshala. Ukuphetha, kuyabonakala ukuba iziphumo nezindululo zoluphando zizakuba negalelo elingathethekiyo kumagosa ezemfundo. Loo nto iyakuwanceda amagosa lawo akwazi ukuqaphela nokuqubisana nezikhewu ekufundeni, baphuhlise baxhase ootitshala nabantwana kwiPhondo leMpuma-Koloni.