Dr. Johannes Sibeko, a passionate former high school teacher, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone! Recently awarded a PhD in Languages and Literature by North-West University (NWU), Dr. Sibeko has made history by being the first to measure text readability for Sesotho. This achievement is a significant step forward for other African languages.
From Teacher to Innovator
Now a lecturer in digital humanities, Dr. Sibeko focuses on creating digital language resources and developing tools to assess the readability of texts in Sesotho. His innovative research is crucial for selecting appropriate reading materials for learners across different grades.
Pioneering Research Under Expert Guidance
Dr. Sibeko conducted his research under the mentorship of Prof. Menno van Zaanen at the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR). His work tackles the challenge of adapting readability formulas from high-resource languages to suit Sesotho. By using data from examination papers and translations, like the Bible, Dr. Sibeko developed new methodologies to ensure texts are accessible and comprehensible for young readers.
The Impact of Dr. Sibeko’s Work
Dr. Sibeko’s research is set to make a significant impact on education in low-resource languages. His work not only enhances reading skills but also paves the way for similar advancements in other African languages. This breakthrough promises to improve educational outcomes for countless learners, ensuring they have access to appropriate and understandable reading materials.
Discover More
To learn more about Dr. Johannes Sibeko’s remarkable journey and his contributions to enhancing reading skills for Sesotho learners, visit the NWU news page: SADiLaR Celebrates PhD Aimed at Enhancing Sesotho Readability.
Dr. Sibeko's dedication and innovative research stand as a testament to the power of education and the importance of supporting low-resource languages. His achievements highlight the incredible potential within South African education and inspire a brighter future for learners across the continent.
