Nigerian breaks world record with 215-hour reading marathon

Nigeria's Samson Ajao has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest reading-aloud marathon. The 27-year-old achieved the record by reading for 215 hours – just one hour short of nine full days. Ajeck Mangut reports.

August 29, 2024 39

Namibia

Not all children read at the same pace – Namibia study shows how teachers can help those falling behind

Not all children read at the same pace and level. Martin Harvey Tsitsi Mavambe, Stellenbosch University and Nhlanhla Mpofu, Stellenbosch University Reading is a powerful tool. It introduces children to new ideas. It shapes their academic journey and progress. It also equips them with skills to navigate the world, both at school and beyond. Sadly, it’s estimated that more than 202 million children and young […]

July 25, 2024 25

Lifestyle

Early childhood education was largely missing from the budget, undermining other education spending

By Marek Tesar, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Despite a NZ$1 billion increase in spending on education in the 2024 budget, there was a noticeable absence of any substantial investment in early childhood education (ECE). This contrasts starkly with the money put aside for primary and secondary education, particularly in areas such as literacy. The budget allocates $191 million over four years for […]

June 5, 2024 19

Africa

Malawi’s school kids are using tablets to improve their reading and maths skills

By Nicola Pitchford, University of Nottingham Malawi introduced free primary education in 1994. This has significantly improved access to schooling. However, the country – which is one of the poorest in the world – still faces a high learning poverty rate of 87%. Learning poverty is a measure of a child’s inability to meet minimum proficiency in reading, numeracy and other skills at the primary school level. […]

May 13, 2024 12

Lifestyle

Nine out of 10 kids are not developmentally on track in literacy and numeracy – study of 8 African countries

Play and storytelling are a crucial part of children’s cognitive development. PixelCatchers Pearl S. Kyei, University of Ghana Children develop an enormous amount during their early years – socially, physically, emotionally and cognitively. What happens between the ages of 0 and 8 years can predict important long-term outcomes: for example, how a child will fare at school; what their health will be like and their future earning potential. Children in […]

April 10, 2024 30

Lifestyle

Learning to read in another language is tough: how Namibian teachers can help kids

Wolfgang Kaehler/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Marta Ndakalako Alumbungu, Stellenbosch University and Nhlanhla Mpofu, Stellenbosch University In a classroom in Namibia’s northern Oshikoto region, a teacher has written English vocabulary words on the chalkboard. She asks her learners to read them aloud. When they stumble with pronunciation, she corrects them. She also helps the youngsters to sound out words. At another school nearby, an English teacher is showing her […]

January 25, 2024 43

literacy