KaBokweni teacher inspires her learners to read and write through poetry

Vulindlela Senior Secondary School’s English teacher, Andile Vilakazi, is determined to inspire learners to love writing and reading poetry so that they can improve their academics.

Vilakazi conducts one-on-one literature sessions with pupils who enjoy writing poems. She teaches English to classes from grades eight to 11.

The goal of the sessions is to reduce the number of learners who are unable to read and or write properly from primary school to Grade Eight.

She said another aim of the programme is to encourage those who struggle with English to start reading and writing poems.
“I usually take the poems written by the learners to read to the lower grades or they recite their poems to other learners. I started this initiative last year with pupils who loved writing. I decided to put them under my wing by giving them books to read and to write and recite their poems. Currently, I have more than six learners who are interested in writing,” she said.

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Her programme has not only helped them with their academics, but has boosted the confidence of children for extracurricular activities such as speech and debate competitions.

One of Vilakazi’s success stories includes Thandeka Phiri (14), a Grade Nine schoolgirl.
Thandeka said she has written more than five poems since she started the programme.

“I started writing letters to my mother when I was in Grade Six. My interest in poems was influenced by teacher Vilakazi when I got to Grade Eight, especially with the poetry books she shared with me,” she said.

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The schoolgirl said her dream is to publish a poetry book one day.
Vilakazi said that she and another teacher, Precious Magkabane, prepared some learners to participate in a debate competition at Lowveld High School on June 3.