Braille literacy boosted

Oxford University Press South Africa (Oupsa) has launched a groundbreaking Foundation Phase textbook series designed to reflect the country’s rich diversity whilst ensuring all learners can access quality educational materials.

The new series prioritises inclusive representation and has been developed in line with Department of Basic Education guidelines for bias-free learning materials that celebrate South Africa’s multicultural society.

In a significant step towards educational equality, Oupsa has introduced Braille editions of its Aweh! reading series specifically for blind and low-vision learners. Sets of these tactile textbooks are being donated to Athlone School for the Blind in Bellville.

“In the early years of learning, what children read and see shape how they understand themselves and the world. That’s why inclusive content cannot be optional or superficial. It must be intentional,” said Sharon Villette, Schools Publisher at Oupsa.

The publisher has developed characters that South African children can identify with, either as reflections of themselves or their classmates, moving beyond tokenistic representation to authentic diversity.

Oupsa’s initiative extends beyond textbook donations. The company is making its intellectual property available at no cost to accredited producers of Braille resources, demonstrating a practical commitment to inclusive access.

“Adding Braille is a practical example of how we move from inclusive representation to inclusive access. It’s one more way to ensure no learner is left behind on the literacy journey,” Villette explained.

The textbooks celebrate diversity across culture, language, gender, ability and belief, ensuring that educational materials reflect the reality of South African classrooms.

The Foundation Phase series represents a significant shift in educational publishing, with Oupsa positioning itself as a leader in inclusive education. The initiative addresses long-standing educational disparities by ensuring that learning materials are accessible to all children, regardless of ability.

“The narratives we publish help shape the fabric of society. We believe that educational materials must celebrate real diversity and be designed so every child can access them,” said Villette.

Filling gaps

Shamece Pillay, who was the first initiator to reach out for help, is also a parent who has a 10-year-old girl at the school. According to her the blind children are desolated. Pillay shares her story about her 10-year-old daughter who was born blind. She says to them it was a shock at the time. To her the journey is continually teaching them things.

Pillay says she started at Athlone School for the Blind, but even before that, when she was at her previous school, “they could see the gaps from what she has access to [compared] to what our sighted children have access to. Because she’s the last-born of five kids, doing those comparisons are really heartbreaking.”

Pillay adds: “I think for me, with this project, the only goal was to bridge that gap in the resources. So, Oxford University Press has obviously been great in the partnership because they have access to licensing of these titles. And that’s one of the other issues — that’s why our kids don’t have resources, because there’s such a legal aspect to the licensing issue that has still not been resolved.

“Our kids need to have access. My goal was for my child to read exactly the same thing that another Grade 4 learner, another Grade 3 learner in any other school is reading, because that was the big problem.”

Grateful

Principal Gail Williams thanked Oxford University Press for their generous contributions. “We are deeply grateful to Oxford University Press for their generous donation of the’Aweh! reading series to our school. This gesture is both meaningful and transformative for our learners.

“Athlone School for the Blind was founded in 1927 and has been a centre for inclusive education, serving visually impaired and blind learners for nearly a century.

“We focus on nurturing students with unique challenges and potential.”

“Resources such as the Aweh! reading series are more than just tools for literacy; they are stepping stones towards a future of opportunity, confidence, and independence.”

Williams says this donation comes at a crucial time as their school faces economic hardships.

“Most learners come from socio-economically disadvantaged families where parents cannot afford books, and the school operates with limited financial resources. Your generosity is not just seen, it is felt. You have given us something we could not have afforded on our own, helping to close a critical gap in our learners’ education. You have given them access.”