Vaal University of Technology Alumni contributes to youth development

Image: Mr Tshepo Sechele (middle) and his grade 4 learners from Ikokobetseng Primary School

Tshepo Sechele, a Vaal University of Technology alumni who is known for his contribution to the 2014 Budget Speech, has gone out to educate the learners in his community.

Mr Sechele is currently running an English Literacy Programme for grade 4’s at Ikokobetseng Primary School in his community, Bophelong – a township based on the outskirts of Vanderbijlpark. He says being a member of the international organisation “YALI”, has inspired him to contribute to the development of the nation. According to research he did, he saw a great need to assist in the education sector. “The Annual National Assessment – 2013 (ANA), reported that only 39% of grade 4 learners can read and comprehend the English language,” said Tshepo. This was evident to him when he started the programme. Learners were taught in their home language and only learned English for an hour during the subject period, which has negatively impacted the learners’ performance in tests and exams.

Through Tshepo’s programme, the learners have improved, parents have even gone to the school to give thanks for the literacy programme – encouraging its continuation. Another parent said her child had been failing English before the programme started, but passed at the end of the year because of the assistance her child got through the English Literacy Programme.

The English literacy programme piloted in 2016.  This year, the programme will start early with the aims of providing even better results. Tshepo wants to have more people supporting this initiative and giving their time to help the learners. The programme is supported by Nal’ibali and Activate (youth development organisation).