The Johannesburg Zoo buzzed with excitement as four schools competed in the finals of the City of Joburg’s Story Skirmish, hosted by Libraries and Information Services on 29 October 2024.
From an impressive field of 166 schools, the top four advanced to the finals, where pupils demonstrated their reading comprehension and recall skills by answering questions based on ten books they had read throughout the year.
Mikateka Primary School from Ivory Park North, Region A, claimed first place, marking their third victory after previous wins in 2018 and 2023. Asteri Primary School took second place, Moses Kotane Primary School came in third, and Mayfair Convent Primary School finished fourth.
Saraphine Kekana, a teacher at Mikateka Primary and coordinator of the Story Skirmish team, played a pivotal role in preparing her team for success. She organised after-school sessions where pupils read the selected books and quizzed one another to reinforce their understanding. “My role is to ensure my team is present, engaged, and supported when they face challenges,” Kekana explained.
Nobantu Mpendulo, Director of Libraries and Information Services, highlighted the programme’s positive impact on literacy and library engagement. “One of the benefits is that we’re seeing more children come into libraries. Once you teach a child to love reading, they return as lifelong readers,” Mpendulo noted. She also emphasised the importance of improving reading comprehension in South Africa, where many children struggle with understanding written text. Mpendulo expressed gratitude to the teachers, librarians, and participants for their dedication.
The Story Skirmish continues to showcase the value of reading programmes in cultivating comprehension skills and fostering a love of learning among Johannesburg’s young readers.
Written by Mpho Mokwena
29/10/2024
To stay informed about the latest developments in the City, connect with us on our official social media platforms:
X: @CityofJoburgZA
Facebook: City of Joburg
Instagram: @CityofJoburg
TikTok: @CityofJoburg
LinkedIn: City of Johannesburg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CityOfJoburgZA/videos
Joburg Pulse Radio: https://s3.radio.co/s349cd1429/listen