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Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes

Dissertation (MEd (Assessment and Quality Assurance))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Roux, Karen
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Roux, Karen
author_browse Roux, Karen
author_facet Roux, Karen
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MEd (Assessment and Quality Assurance))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:11.932Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/103070 Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes Roux, Karen u17296201@tuks.co.za Combrinck, Celeste Sikhosana, Indy UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) IsiZulu home language Reading Comprehension Achievement The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 Mother-Tongue instruction Quality of teaching and learning in African languages Measurement of educational outcomes Dissertation (MEd (Assessment and Quality Assurance))--University of Pretoria, 2024. This study examined factors potentially linked with the reading achievement of South African Grade 4 isiZulu-speaking learners who wrote the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 assessment in isiZulu or English. The PIRLS cycles have consistently reported a literacy crisis in South Africa because learners' reading achievement scores fall significantly below the international set mean score, and the achievement for those writing in an African language is meagre. The current study examined factors that may be associated with reading achievement for isiZulu learners who wrote in their mother tongue compared to those who did not. Exploring why isiZulu learners have higher achievement when they write in English rather than their mother tongue is crucial in supporting the teaching and learning of African languages. Two theories, social interaction from Vygotsky and availability of resources from Bourdieu were integrated to develop a conceptual framework to underpin the variables selected for the current study. This study took the form of a secondary data analysis, analysing data from the PIRLS 2021 datasets. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were calculated to ascertain whether there is an association between the factors investigated and the isiZulu learners' reading literacy achievement. The research results revealed that isiZulu learners who were assessed in English, performed significantly better in reading comprehension than isiZulu learners who were assessed in their mother tongue or another African language. Learners reading achievement was significantly associated with their home and school socio-economic status. The gender of the child was another crucial factor as isiZulu learners (boys) performed significantly lower than isiZulu girls. The study recommends enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in isiZulu so that learners can benefit from learning in their mother tongue. National Research Foundation Science, Mathematics and Technology Education MEd (Assessment and Quality Assurance) Unrestricted Faculty of Education SDG-04: Quality Education 2025-07-01T10:47:47Z 2025-07-01T10:47:47Z 2025-09 2024-12 Dissertation * S2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103070 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29376389.v1 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29376389 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
IsiZulu home language Reading Comprehension Achievement
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021
Mother-Tongue instruction
Quality of teaching and learning in African languages
Measurement of educational outcomes
Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title_full Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title_fullStr Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title_short Grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isiZulu-speaking learners : comparing mother-tongue and English outcomes
title_sort grade 4 reading comprehension achievement for isizulu speaking learners comparing mother tongue and english outcomes
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
IsiZulu home language Reading Comprehension Achievement
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021
Mother-Tongue instruction
Quality of teaching and learning in African languages
Measurement of educational outcomes
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103070
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29376389.v1
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29376389