AVBOB And Oxford University Press Southern Africa Donate Thousands Of Books To Primary Schools 

CEO of AVBOB, Carl van der Riet together with Hanri Pieterse, Managing Director of OUP, announced the 260 beneficiaries of the AVBOB Road To Literacy campaign on Thursday, 15 June 2023. The announcement of the beneficiaries took place at an event held in Auckland Park at the SABC M1 Auditorium, where Angie Motshekga, Minister for Basic Education, was the keynote speaker. 

“Adjudicators had a tough task sifting through the more than 8 000 nominations submitted by South Africans throughout the country to determine the final and deserving beneficiaries of the 2023 campaign,” shared van der Riet.

The national AVBOB Road To Literacy campaign, aimed at instilling a culture of reading and improving the numeracy skills of primary school children across the country, was launched on 01 March 2023. Each trolley will be delivered with 500 books, which is an increase from the 430 books of 2022. Each AVBOB Road To Literacy trolley library has a value of R50 000. The total investment value for the 2023 initiative is R13 million. 

Commitment to support literacy

A recent global study in children’s reading ability put South Africa in the spotlight, when the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study ranked South Africa last out of the 57 countries assessed. In 2021, the study tested the reading ability of 400 000 students globally and showed that 81% of South African children could not read for comprehension in any of the country’s 11 official languages. 

As part of AVBOB’s ongoing commitment to support literacy, van der Riet explained that the AVBOB Road To Literacy campaign with OUP and the government is a critical collaboration in response to a pervasive need in schools and society.

Van der Riet, in his address, also highlighted the need to work together in both the private and public sectors to address universal challenges for the betterment of communities and future generations. “AVBOB exists because of our members, and everything we do is for their benefit and for their communities. We do this by creating and sharing value through social investments like the Road To Literacy campaign.”

In her keynote address, Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga said, “this campaign is a crucial step in our journey to instil a culture of reading and enhance the numeracy skills of primary school children across our beloved country.”

“I am particularly delighted to share that this year’s campaign places special emphasis on reading resources in mother tongue languages. Extensive research has shown that teaching in a child’s mother tongue language reduces dropout rates and makes education more accessible and engaging.”  

“Moreover, we recognise the critical importance of developing numeracy skills during a child’s formative years. Together, let us ignite a love for reading, strengthen numeracy skills, and empower our children to reach new heights of knowledge and achievement.”

Pieterse emphasised that the global university press, which publishes in more than 70 languages and in close to 200 countries globally, believes that partnerships with like-minded organisations are essential to realise its vision to positively impact the lives of millions of learners anytime, anywhere. 

“Our collaboration with AVBOB is one such example where our shared value and mutual vision have strengthened our relationship and delivered the Road To Literacy campaign that drives this vision with a profound impact after only two consecutive years of running it,” said Pieterse. 

Oxford University Press Southern Africa is South Africa’s leading literacy publisher.

Below is a list of beneficiary schools (per province) that will each receive a trolley library:

2023 AVBOB ROAD TO LITERACY BENEFICIARIES**

Eastern Cape

• All Saints Senior Primary School
• Bethvale Primary School 
• Bulembu Primary School
• Dalrose Primary School
• Dias Farm School
• Enqileni Intermediate School
• Jack And Jill Primary School
• Jarvis Gqamlana Public Primary School
• Kuhle Primary School 
• Kwasa English Medium School
• Lamplight Children Ministries Primary School
• Lower Mvenyane Junior Secondary School 
• Lunga Junior Primary School
• Macibe Primary School
• Maclear Methodist Primary School
• Mapasa J.S.S Primary School
• Marialinden Primary School
• Masele Primary School
• Masifunde Learner Development 
• Melisizwe Public Primary School
• Mputekane Primary School
• Mthyolo Primary School
• Ngxaza Junior Secondary School
• Nqadu Primary School
• Sakhebhala Home Care
• Sisonke National Foundation
• Siyaphambili Orphan Village
• Sobi Primary School
• Strelitzia Primary School
• Tulwa Primary School
• Unathi Gqoli Primary School
• Upper Cabazana Primary School
• Utshintsho Express Development 067
• Witmos Primary School
• Zaaimanshoek Junior Secondary School
• Zadungeni Primary School
• Zanokhanyo Baptist Comprehensive School

Free State

• Bhekilanga Primary School
• Carel Du Toit Special School
• Dihwai Primary School 
• Hani Park Primary School
• Katiso Primary School
• Kweetsa Primary School
• Masaleng Primary School
• Mokgwabong Primary School
• Motshepuwa Primary School
• Namoha Primary School
• Phamong Primary School
• Phinduzame Primary School
• Setjhaba-Se-Maketse Combined School
• Welkom Preparatory School

Gauteng

• Baweze Primary School
• Bonwelong Primary School
• Buyani Primary School
• Chokoe Primary School
• Dimakatso Primary School
• Elsie Ngidi Primary School
• Emseni Primary School
• Gontse Primary School
• Home Of Hope
• Iphahlolleng Intermediate School
• Kekana Primary School
• Kutloanong Primary School
• Laerskool Kameeldrift
• Laerskool Modderfontein
• Lakeside Estate Primary School
• Lawley Primary School No.2
• Lerutle Primary School
• Lesedi-La-Thuto Primary School
• Phoenix Alexandra NPO
• Primrose Hill Primary School
• Prince & Princess Creche
• Sedi-Laka Primary School
• Sefako Mapogo Makgatho Primary School
• Self Development Circle NPO 
• Shalimar Ridge Primary School
• Silver Lining 22 Community NPO
• Solid Beginnings Junior Private School 
• Thembalethu Primary School
• Thuthukani-Tswelopele Primary School
• Tomorrow Trust 
• Vezulwazi Primary School 
• Vulindlela  Primary  School
• Walter Sisulu Primary School
• Zimele Primary  School

KwaZulu-Natal

• Acacia Primary School
• Bantuvukani Senior Primary School 
• C Louds Of Hope Children’s Christian Care Centre
• Camperdown Combined School
• Chibelihle Combined School
• Cordwalles Preparatory School 
• Embabe Primary School
• Escombe Primary School
• Esidumbini Primary School
• Esiphethwini Sendezi Primary School 
• Fairbreeze Primary School
• Fulton School For The Deaf
• Gatsheni Sports Academy
• Gezangane Primary School
• Glenview Primary School
• Gokul Primary School
• Golden Steps School 
• Grace House Home School
• Henryville Primary School
• Hibiscus Primary School
• Ifalethu Primary School
• Ingweni Primary School 
• Inkosi Masumpa Primary School 
• Khula Arts Centre
• Khulubone Primary School
• Kwamsinga Primary School
• Kwangubeni Primary School
• Lindokuhle Primary School
• Little Flower Combined School
• Martha Beyers Academy
• Motala Heights Combined School
• Mthiyane Primary School
• Musa Special School
• Ndabanhle Primary School
• Ngilosi Junior Primary School
• Ngwegweni Primary School
• Nhlangenyuke Primary School
• Ntikili Primary School
• Parkview Primary School
• Pelham Senior Primary School
• Phoenix Pioneer Primary 
• Shayamoya Primary School
• Sigedleni Primary School
• Silverglen Primary School
• Siphosethu Primary School
• Smjhavary Primary School 
• Sonqoba Primary School
• Sosinda Primary School
• Springfield Model Primary School
• Sukuma Primary School 
• Tafelikopo Primary School
• Thandukwazi Sp School 
• Umngeni Primary School
• Vezokuhle Primary School
• Vryheid Public Primary School
• Xongo Primary School
• Yenzakahle Foundation

Limpopo

• Boduma Primary School 
• Dumazi Primary School
• Eltivillas Full-Service Primary School
• Jinnah Park Primary School
• Kgabo Park Primary School
• Kgampi Primary School
• Komape-Molapo Primary School
• Lehlake Primary School 
• Lesedi La Thuto Learning Academy
• Mabeba Primary School
• Maila-1 Primary School
• Mamotshana Primary School
• Mangaya Primary School
• Megoring Primary School
• Mentz Reading Paradise 
• Mitumba Primary School
• Mmasehlong Primary School
• Mokati Primary School
• Morena Ona Lerena Faith Based Organisation
• Moshakga Primary School
• Mphanama Primary School
• Mphareng Primary School
• Mubvumoni Primary School 
• Murongwe Enrichment Project
• Muyexe Education Forum 
• Napo Primary School
• Nkotsane Primary School
• Siyandhani Primary School
• Snell Phoshoko Primary School
• Thorntree Preparatory
• Titirheleni Primary School
• Vari Primary School  

Mpumalanga

• Bukhosibetfu Primary School
• Faith Nomcebo Makhubedu Foundation
• Fundanathi Foundation
• Laerskool Numbi
• Leseli Primary School
• Masana Primary School
• Mbongo Primary School 
• Moekwe Primary School
• Mpisane Church Of The Nazarene 
• New Ermelo Primary School 
• Penreach NPO
• Refitlhile Primary School
• Remogo Community Development Organisation 
• Sa Makam Primary School
• Sekemisa Primary School
• Sibis Primary School
• Siyakhula Primary School
• Vusumuzi Primary School

North West

• Boineelo Public School 
• Bonolo Primary School
• Borakalalo Primary School 
• Dipati Primary School
• Ditaelong Primary School
• Ganyesa Primary School
• Kau Primary School
• Manno Primary School
• Maphoitsile Primary School
• Modimokwane Primary School
• Mohajane Primary School 
• Mokaila Intermediate School
• Mperebere Primary School
• Noka Ya Lorato Primary School
• Obed More Special School and Resource Centre 
• Oratile Kujane Charitable Foundation
• Ramoshie Primary School
• Safe A Boy Child
• Selamodi Primary School
• St Catherine Primary School
• Tlhaalapitse Primary School
• Ventersdorp Gekombineerde Skool
• Victim Victory Innovation NPO

Northern Cape

• Cornelius Saal
• Hantam Community Education Trust
• Laerskool Andalusia
• Re Tlameleng Special School
• Williston Junior Kollege

Western Cape

• Abedare Primary School 
• Avondale Primary School
• Belmor Primary School
• Bergsig Primary School
• Boost Africa Foundation
• Cecil Road Primary School
• Devon Valley Primary
• Devonvallei Primêre Skool
• Dr. G.J. Joubert Primêre Skool
• Dryden Street Primary School
• Duneside Primary School
• Encotsheni Primary School
• Factreton Primary School
• Forest Village Leadership Academy
• Heart NPO
• Intshayelelo Primary School
• Isitha Sokhanyo Reading And Writing Project
• Kerria Primary School 
• Lindelani CYCC
• Linge Primary School
• Liwa Primary School
• Masonwabe Primary School
• Matroosberg Primary
• Meadowridge Primary School
• Mountain Road Primary School
• Otto Foundation 
• Perivale Primary School
• Perserverance Primary School
• Protea Primary School
• Riviersonderend Primary School
• Saxonsea Primary School
• Siyazingisa Primary School
• Sobambisana Primary School
• Steenberg’s Cove Primêre Skool
• Stop Crime Against Children NPO
• Voorwaarts Primary School
• Watsonia Primary School
• Wespoort Primary School
• West End Primary School
• Windermere Primary School