Meulenhof Primary School, Philadelphia, Western Cape
Phildelphia is a farming village about 30 km north of Cape Town, just off the N7. The school serves the small village community and children are bussed in from surrounding farms. Brick buildings are slowly replacing the original pre-fab classrooms. It has a staff of dedicated Afrikaans and Xhosa speaking teachers.
Literacy for All has committed itself to raising R70 000 to introduce the Literacy for All Programme as a means of initiating the “Language Transformation Plan” in Grades 1 - 3 at Meulenhof Primary by June 2009.
The aim of the Language Transformation Plan over 3 years:
Grade 1 : To provide Mother-tongue (MT) teaching. This is being done but with inadequate resources.
Grade 2 : Continue with MT and start with English conversation and reading
Grade 3 : Continue with MT and add English reading and teaching
Grade 4 : By 2011 aim to continue with MT and English and carry through to Grade 6.
The smiles of the Principal and his staff reflect the enthusiasm for this Programme.