The effectiveness of the "Hiway" literacy programme for learner support in the foundation and intermediate phase

Abstract

A literature-survey indicated that there is a need for complete reading programmes that are integrated within the mainstream to meet the unique needs of learners who struggle to read in South African schools. Recent research suggests that the use of 'evidence-based', complete reading programmes are effective multi-purpose tools for reading intervention, cognitive enrichment, and identification of learners unresponsive to regular literacy instruction. The main conclusion of, this study was ,that the HlWAY READING & SPELLING PROGRAMME© is a complete reading programme, comprising of multiple components including phonemic awareness instruction, systematic phonics instruction, fluency training, vocabulary building and comprehension strategy training components. It is also a much-needed tool for in-service and pre-service teacher training and whole-school capacity building in the implementation of evidence-based reading instruction. A pre-test-post-test control group design was used. The weight of evidence obtained in this investigation indicates that the HRSP caused a statistically significant improvement in spelling and reading comprehension measures. The HRSP was successfully integrated within the mainstream, and the effect sizes obtained in this study were large Recommendations were offered with regard to the use of the complete reading programmes like the HRSP in school contexts to address the needs of learners unresponsive to literacy intervention.