1. In 2003 the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) launched its Literacy Strategy in response to reports of low levels of reading, writing and comprehension.
2. In support of this strategy, and in support of the introduction of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), the WCED will supply all schools that have Foundation Phase classes with one hundred reading books per classroom.
3. By means of this circular, the WCED is providing schools the opportunity to select pre-identified sets of 100 books - one set for each Foundation Phase class in their school.
4. Foundation Phase and reading experts have selected and classified the sets of books for the project.
4.1 The lists promote multi-lingualism and provide for a range of reading abilities across and within grades.
4.2 The WCED is aware that schools differ in terms of contexts and have a wide variety of existing Foundation Phase reading material. For this reason, no list or package will perfectly match every school’s needs. However, we hope that the schools will choose packages that are most suited to their learners’ levels and reading development programmes.
4.3 There are 19 sets of books. Each set is a fixed list of 100 books selected to suit a particular range of reading levels. Schools might wish to choose a number of different sets so that books can be exchanged between classes to allow for maximum variety and choice.
4.4 The sets are as follows:
4.4.1 Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Sets A.1 to A.7
4.4.2 Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Sets E.1 to E.7
4.4.3 Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Sets X.1 to X.5
4.5 Schools are advised to choose sets that support the language policy of the Western Cape, that is, mother tongue tuition in the Foundation Phase.
5. It is the intention to supply these books before the end of 2003. In the event that supplies of any titles are unavailable in the given time frames, alternative equivalent titles could be included in the set.
6. Please complete the attached form (Appendix D) and return it to Directorate: Logistical Services, SPECIAL PROJECT READING BOOKS, Private Bag X9114, CAPE TOWN, 8000 by 22 June 2003.
7. For further advice please contact the relevant Literacy co-ordinator:
  
Central:                Mr G Davids         021 659 4000
East:                   Ms K Mabandla       021 900 7000
North:                  Ms J. Caroto        021 930 2100
South:                  Ms J Leukes         021 370 2000
                        Ms C Nissen         021 782 6102
                        Ms M Kwinana        021 372 2770
Breede River/Overberg:  Ms M Siddle         023 342 8993
Southern Cape/Karoo:    Ms C du Plessis     083 278 5043
West Coast/Winelands:   Ms J Baadjies       021 860 1212
                        Ms F Lawrence       021 860 1200
8. The WCED is delighted to be able to make this contribution to literacy development in the province and hopes that schools will take full advantage of the opportunity by ensuring careful selection and enthusiastic use of the stock in the new year.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:05:22


Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.1  (size: 22 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.2  (size: 23 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.3  (size: 22 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.4  (size: 22 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.5  (size: 22 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.6  (size: 22 KB)
Appendix A: Predominantly Afrikaans Mother Tongue: Set A.7  (size: 22 KB)

Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.1  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.2  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.3  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.4  (size: 20 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.5  (size: 20 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.6  (size: 20 KB)
Appendix B: Predominantly English Mother Tongue: Set E.7  (size: 20 KB)

Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Set X.1  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Set X.2  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Set X.3  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Set X.4  (size: 19 KB)
Appendix C: Predominantly Xhosa Mother Tongue: Set X.5  (size: 19 KB)

Appendix D: Requisition for special project  (size: 11 KB)