Ever felt like your child might be struggling with reading, but couldn’t quite put your finger on why—especially if English isn’t the language you speak at home?
There’s exciting news out of Johannesburg that could change the game for thousands of families across South Africa.
The brilliant minds at Bellavista S.H.A.R.E.—a remedial education training and resource centre—have developed and piloted South Africa’s first dyslexia screening tool, specifically designed for isiXhosa-speaking children. It’s a groundbreaking move towards helping kids in their home language—and it’s a big deal.
Why this matters
IsiXhosa is spoken at home by around 16% of South Africans, making it the second most-spoken home language in the country—yet until now, there was no proper dyslexia screener tailored to it. As a result, many kids were slipping through the cracks.
“While much research focuses on dyslexia in English-speaking populations, there has been limited understanding of how this condition presents in African languages,” explains Annelize Clark, Occupational Therapist and Head of Professional Awards at Bellavista. “Early identification is crucial because the brain is most adaptable during younger years, and early intervention prevents academic failure and associated challenges like poor self-esteem.”
Meet the team behind the tool
The breakthrough team includes Annelize Clark and Kalie Naidoo (Clinical Psychologist and Social Worker) from Bellavista S.H.A.R.E., as well as Adaiah Lilenstein from the University of Cape Town. Together, they created a three-part system that looks at a child’s learning from every angle:
- Learner screening tool
- Teacher checklist
- Parent questionnaire
What the pilot revealed
Piloted with 19 children (ages 6–10) across three Gauteng schools, the tool identified:
- 5 children clearly at risk for dyslexia
- 8 children with possible risk
Key indicators included difficulties with phonological awareness (recognising sounds), spelling, reading/decoding, and written work.
Crucially, the results weren’t based on a single perspective. The team employed triangulation, combining learner assessments, teacher observations, and parent interviews. In many cases, parents’ insights aligned most closely with the screening outcomes.
A real step forward for early, home-language screening
Many South African schools teach children in their home language during the early years before switching to English. Screening only in English risks missing the critical early-intervention window.
This new tool helps solve three big problems:
- Language barriers: finally, an assessment in isiXhosa
- Resource gap: most screeners have been English-only
- Early intervention: spotting signs early gives kids the best chance to thrive
What’s next?
Yes, the pilot was small—but the potential is significant. The project proves it’s possible to create similar tools across South Africa’s other official languages.
“This work represents the first step toward creating dyslexia screening tools across African languages,” says Clark. “Our goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of their home language, has access to early identification and appropriate support.”
Learn more
- Email: share@bellavistaschool.co.za
- Website: www.bellavista.org.za
