Vosloorus learners take part in school-wide silent reading hour

More than 800 learners at Thembimfundo Primary School, Vosloorus, participated in a synchronised hour of silent reading from 10am recently, as part of a new initiative to encourage daily reading habits among students.

Christine Masinga, HR Director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa, which partnered with the school for the initiative, said: “The ultimate goal is to increase learners’ daily reading time by at least one additional hour, whether that is at school or at home. We want to move reading from an occasional activity to a daily habit.”

Masinga highlighted that the company’s investment in school libraries and literacy-focused events forms part of its broader commitment to nurturing a culture of reading. “We must do everything we can to encourage an appetite for, and a love for reading, especially in minds that are still developing and absorbing information,” she said.

According to Masinga, the benefits of increased reading include enhanced cognitive, language, and communication skills, as well as mental wellbeing. She added that the Silent Reading initiative would be expanded to the company’s wider network of supported schools in the future.

Since 2013, 22 libraries have been built at schools across Gauteng, with the 23rd set to open at Erasmus Monareng Secondary in Vosloorus on November 5, 2025. These libraries are fully equipped with furniture, laptops, and projectors, and the programme also supports employment for librarians, providing salary support and ensuring the facilities are regularly maintained.