The elderly discover joy of reading

MOST people learn how to read and write at an early age, but for an elderly man in North West that opportunity came at the age of 61.

Hosia Koaho from Jouberton Extension 2 in Klerksdorp said he felt privileged to be among elderly people who were now being given the opportunity to learn how to read and write.

Sowetan interviewed Koaho and fellow learners ahead of today’s International Literacy Day.

Koaho was one of 500 elderly people the North West department of education, recruited to join the Kha Ri Gude programme.

Launched in 2008, Kha Ri Gude (Venda for “Let us learn”) is the Department of Basic Education’s flagship programme initiated to teach basic literacy and numeracy to elderly citizens who had missed out on a chance to attend school.

North West education spokesman Elias Malindi said a record 4.7 million illiterate adults across the country were registered.

Koaho said being able to read and write was a gift.

“I never had an opportunity to read; my parents did not believe in education. We were made to work at the farms,” he said.

Koaho was a truck driver with a legal driving licence, even before he learnt how to write and read.

“The farm owner that I used to work for bribed someone with a sheep and I was given a licence to drive. I am good at driving and I have never been involved in an accident.”

Another learner, Jacob Mmolawa, 47, also from Jouberton said he left school at Grade 1.

“My parents did not have money [for] school,” he said.

Mmolawa said he can read simple words, like baby, cook and food. He said he can also count and add numbers.

“I can read a Bible and any book as long as it’s written in simple English or Setswana. It feels good that I no longer rely on other people to read documents or papers for me,” he said.

Mmolawa who is working as a gardener, said he was going to use his little knowledge to empower himself more.

“I am going to study further, I want to see myself having a matric certificate one day.”

Malindi said his department held a successful literacy graduation programme from June 28 to 29.

He said through Kha Ri Gude, hundreds of the volunteers have been assimilated as Grade R teachers as a result of the experience and exposure gathered from the programme.

“I’m going to study further, I want a matric certificate