Teacher Assistants Programme

The Teachers Assistant Programme is a community-driven initiative aimed at improving educational outcomes for Grade 3 & 4 learners in disadvantaged communities. Through targeted support and capacity building, the programme seeks to address the pressing needs of local schools and learners.

The challenge

1. Low reading and writing skills: Grade 3 and 4 learners were struggling with basic literacy skills, hindering their academic progress.
2. Overcrowded classrooms: Teachers were overwhelmed with large class sizes, making it difficult to provide individualised attention to learners.

How we worked together

Through the programme, local community members were recruited and trained as teacher assistants and provided with bursaries. This allowed for more focused attention and instruction in the classrooms, with priority learners identified. An evidence-based literacy programme (“spell-to-read-to-write”) was implemented to address specific skills gaps. To date, the programme has improved learner outcomes by 70% and generated 22 jobs.

Key results

The Teachers Assistant Program has been a vital catalyst for improvement in our school, empowering teachers and learners alike to reach their full potential

– Mr. Deon Hero, Principal at Loxtonvale Primary School

Community investments are our voluntary initiatives that contribute to the long-term common good of local communities and come in addition to efforts made to mitigate or compensate for project-related impacts. We are committed to contributing to the communities in a way that allows them to develop by themselves without becoming dependent on us.