Folklore and oral literature in South Africa serve as important educational resources that support language development, cultural identity, and critical thinking skills. The CAPS framework advocates the integration of indigenous narratives into educational practice, particularly in African language classrooms (DBE 2011). Research conducted in South Africa indicates that folklore-based pedagogy promotes cognitive development, ethical reasoning, and cultural affirmation, contributing to decolonised and transformative education (Hlalele 2019). Empirical studies further demonstrate that storytelling and narrative-based teaching strengthen learners’ comprehension, interpretation, and evaluative skills, particularly in multilingual and culturally diverse classrooms (Maluleke & Smith 2025).

Studies of Sepedi folklore in primary education show that traditional narratives improve learners’ interpretive skills, moral reasoning, and cultural identity, while also providing accessible pathways to critical literacy. Folklore offers opportunities for inquiry across multiple cognitive levels. A single folktale can facilitate questions ranging from literal recall to in-depth analysis of symbolism, evaluation of characters’ decisions, and the application of moral lessons to contemporary contexts. The cultural familiarity of folktales enhances learner engagement and provides accessible entry points for sustained analytical exploration (Maluleke & Smith 2025).

Folklore in South Africa is recognised as an important resource for promoting literacy, particularly within African language education. Curriculum frameworks encourage the use of indigenous narratives to strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and the formation of cultural identity (DBE 2011). Studies indicate that folklore-based instruction improves learners’ inferential and evaluative comprehension, particularly when delivered in their home languages. Folklore is increasingly recognised as a culturally responsive literacy pedagogy that supports multilingual learners by integrating oral and written language practices and fostering critical engagement with texts (Maluleke & Smith 2025).

Sepedi oral literature draws on a rich vocabulary that includes specialised terms associated with traditional practices, natural phenomena, social relationships, and cultural concepts (Bazimaziki 2023). Proverbs and idioms are common features of Sepedi oral literature, conveying complex meanings through figurative language. Studies demonstrate that explicit attention to figurative language improves both comprehension and cultural awareness. Ideophones constitute an important, though often overlooked, element of Sepedi narrative language, enriching sensory imagery and promoting narrative engagement (Bazimaziki 2023). Folklore-based instruction that emphasises ideophonic language supports indigenous linguistic practices while strengthening learners’ stylistic awareness and expressive abilities.

Reading comprehension and critical thinking are interconnected cognitive processes that reinforce one another in literacy development (Duke & Pearson 2002; Snow 2018). Comprehension requires readers to derive meaning from text by synthesising textual information with existing knowledge, whereas critical thinking involves evaluating that meaning, questioning assumptions, and forming reasoned judgements (Afflerbach & Cho 2009). Bloom’s revised taxonomy distinguishes between literal comprehension (remembering and understanding) and critical thinking (analysing, evaluating, and creating), providing a framework for evaluating cognitive engagement across different levels (Anderson & Krathwohl 2001).

Studies of classroom discourse in South Africa indicate a strong reliance on low-level questioning, limiting the development of critical thinking skills. Teachers predominantly ask literal questions that require factual recall, whereas inferential and evaluative questions constitute only a small proportion of classroom interactions (Hoadley 2017; Reeves & McMillan 2022). Folklore provides valuable opportunities for developing comprehension across multiple cognitive levels. Educators who use effective questioning techniques can support learners’ progression from understanding basic narrative structures to engaging in more complex interpretive and evaluative tasks. The moral ambiguity inherent in traditional tales encourages evaluative discussion, requiring learners to formulate and justify their judgements (Maluleke & Smith 2025).

The integration of indigenous knowledge systems into formal education is a central aspect of contemporary educational reform in South Africa. Post-apartheid educational policies recognise the importance of indigenous knowledge, with CAPS mandating its integration across a range of learning areas (DBE 2011). Formal schooling, however, often fails to draw on readily available cultural resources, creating a disconnect between home- and school-based learning that undermines educational effectiveness (Hlalele 2019). The purposeful integration of folklore into educational curricula can bridge informal and formal learning, affirm learners’ cultural identities, and promote critical thinking skills through culturally responsive teaching pedagogies. South African educators are increasingly developing innovative approaches to folklore pedagogy by combining indigenous narratives with digital technologies and the performing arts (Hlalele 2019). Comparative studies of folklore across South Africa’s diverse cultural groups promote intercultural dialogue and contribute to national cohesion (Zhou & Liao 2025). These applications demonstrate the continued relevance of folklore in addressing contemporary educational challenges while respecting indigenous intellectual traditions.

This study employed a qualitative research design grounded in an interpretivist framework. A qualitative approach was appropriate for examining the complex, context-dependent processes through which teachers integrate folklore into literacy instruction and how learners engage with folklore-based activities to develop critical thinking.

The study was conducted in primary schools within the Lebowakgomo Circuit, Capricorn South District, Limpopo province, South Africa. The circuit serves predominantly Sepedi-speaking communities in rural and semi-urban settings, where indigenous oral traditions remain culturally significant. Schools in the circuit reflect the resource constraints typical of historically disadvantaged educational contexts, including limited library facilities and instructional materials.

The study population comprised Grade 7 Sepedi Home Language teachers and their learners in primary schools within the Lebowakgomo Circuit. Purposive sampling was employed to select teachers with experience in teaching Sepedi Home Language in the Senior Phase. The sampling criteria required participants to have at least 3 years of teaching experience in Sepedi Home Language and to be willing to participate in classroom observations during folklore-based lessons. The final sample comprised four teachers from four primary schools.

Three data collection methods were employed to achieve methodological triangulation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participating teachers to explore their perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding the integration of folklore into literacy instruction. The interview questions focused on teachers’ understanding of the pedagogical value of folklore, the strategies used in folklore-based instruction, the challenges they encountered, and the perceived effects on learners’ literacy and critical thinking skills. Non-participant classroom observations were conducted during folklore-based Sepedi Home Language lessons to examine teaching practices, questioning strategies, learner engagement, and interaction patterns. An observation schedule, informed by Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl 2001), was developed to assess the cognitive demand levels of teacher questions and learner responses. Finally, document analysis was conducted on learners’ written responses to folklore-based activities, including comprehension questions, interpretive tasks, and evaluative exercises, to examine evidence of critical thinking across different cognitive levels.

The data were analysed using thematic analysis in accordance with the six-phase process proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). Interview transcripts and observation field notes were transcribed and coded inductively, with initial codes organised into potential themes through an iterative process of comparison. The themes were subsequently reviewed, refined, and defined in relation to the research objectives. Document analysis employed a deductive coding framework based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl 2001) to categorise learners’ responses according to cognitive demand levels. Trustworthiness was enhanced through data source triangulation, member checking, and the maintenance of a comprehensive audit trail.

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Turfloop Research Ethics Committee at the University of Limpopo (ethics clearance number: TREC/2498/2025: PG). Permission to conduct the study was granted by the Limpopo Department of Education and the principals of the participating schools. All participating teachers provided informed consent, and parental consent was obtained for learner participation. Pseudonyms were used to protect participants’ identities, and all data were securely stored in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

The analysis of teacher interviews and classroom observations indicated that Sepedi folklore functioned as an effective medium for vocabulary acquisition and the development of figurative language. Teachers indicated that folktales familiarised learners with culturally relevant vocabulary related to traditional practices, natural phenomena, and social interactions, extending beyond the vocabulary typically encountered in standard textbook materials. Proverbs [diema] embedded within folktales required interpretive engagement, with teachers guiding discussions of their metaphorical meanings and contemporary relevance. Classroom observations further indicated that learners demonstrated high levels of engagement when presented with culturally relevant linguistic material, as folklore provided authentic contexts for exploring ideophones and specialised terminology. The interview data supported these observations.

Teacher B emphasised the vocabulary-building function of folklore, stating:

This response illustrates how folklore introduces domain-specific vocabulary associated with cultural institutions and the natural environment, extending learners’ lexical repertoires beyond conventional textbook content. Teacher C similarly highlighted the linguistic refinement afforded by folklore:

Teacher C’s response suggests that folklore instruction cultivates lexical precision and stylistic awareness, encouraging learners to develop sensitivity to register and appropriateness in language use. Teacher A further noted the broader educational value of folklore for language development:

This perspective suggests that teachers regarded folklore not merely as a supplementary resource but as a foundational medium through which both cultural knowledge and linguistic competence are developed simultaneously.

Classroom observations confirmed that learners actively engaged with culturally embedded vocabulary during folklore-based lessons, responding particularly well to proverbs [diema] and ideophones that required the interpretive negotiation of figurative meaning. Interpreted through Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory, these findings show folklore functioning as a cultural-linguistic mediator. The domain-specific vocabulary, proverbs, and ideophones encountered in folktales are not isolated word lists but culturally embedded tools through which learners acquire language and cultural meaning simultaneously. This interpretation aligns with international research demonstrating that folklore provides optimal contexts for vocabulary instruction through narrative embedding and cultural framing (Beck, McKeown & Kucan 2013; Fisher & Larkin 2008), and that engagement with linguistically rich texts strengthens both receptive and productive vocabulary while deepening cultural knowledge (Cervetti, Wright & Hwang 2016). The interpretive demands of proverbs [diema] are particularly significant. As Serpell and Marfo (2022) argue, African proverbs foster higher-order thinking because they require analogical reasoning and contextual sensitivity. Teacher C’s emphasis on lexical precision and register therefore reflects more than vocabulary development; it illustrates the metalinguistic awareness that culturally responsive pedagogy seeks to cultivate by treating learners’ home language as an intellectual resource (Gay 2018).

The findings indicated that folklore-based instruction enhanced learners’ reading comprehension across multiple cognitive levels. Document analysis of learners’ written responses revealed stronger performance on inferential and evaluative comprehension tasks when learners engaged with folklore rather than with culturally unfamiliar texts. Teachers observed that the familiar narrative structures and cultural contexts of Sepedi folktales reduced cognitive load, enabling learners to focus on higher-order analytical processes rather than basic comprehension. The layered symbolic features of folklore facilitated simultaneous engagement with literal, inferential, and evaluative levels of comprehension.

Teacher interview data provided compelling evidence of how folklore-based instruction enhanced reading comprehension. Teacher D described a prediction-based reading strategy grounded in folklore:

This strategy reflects the activation of prior knowledge and predictive reasoning through culturally familiar narrative elements, with paratextual features such as titles and illustrations serving as comprehension scaffolds. Teacher B employed a similar multimodal approach:

Teacher A reinforced these approaches by identifying key comprehension strategies:

Collectively, these responses demonstrate that teachers employed culturally embedded visual and textual cues within folklore to scaffold reading comprehension, enabling learners to activate relevant background knowledge and construct meaning at progressively higher cognitive levels.

These findings are best explained by schema theory, which proposes that culturally familiar content activates relevant background knowledge, reduces extraneous cognitive load, and frees attentional resources for analytical engagement (Anderson & Pearson 1984). When the narrative world of a folktale is already familiar, learners need not expend cognitive effort decoding unfamiliar settings or conventions and can instead direct those resources towards inference and evaluation. This finding speaks directly to the comprehension crisis documented in PIRLS 2016 (Howie et al. 2017). The evidence suggests that culturally responsive texts can scaffold learners’ progression from literal to inferential and evaluative comprehension, a progression that recall-oriented instruction rarely supports. The prediction and paratextual strategies described by Teachers A, B, and D, in which titles and illustrations function as comprehension scaffolds, operationalise schema activation and are consistent with evidence that folklore-based instruction strengthens inferential and evaluative comprehension when delivered in learners’ home languages (Maluleke & Smith 2025).

Classroom observations revealed that folklore-based lessons employing dialogic teaching approaches promoted high levels of critical thinking engagement. Teachers who posed open-ended questions about character motivations, moral dilemmas, and alternative narrative outcomes facilitated evaluative discussions that moved learners beyond literal recall. The moral ambiguity inherent in traditional tales, in which characters display both commendable and problematic behaviours, created productive opportunities for reasoned argumentation. Learners demonstrated increased ability to formulate and justify judgement, to consider multiple perspectives, and apply narrative lessons to contemporary situations.

Teacher interviews provided compelling evidence of dialogic strategies that promoted critical thinking. Teacher D explicitly described the use of higher-order questioning:

This deliberate deployment of cognitively demanding questions during folklore instruction created opportunities for learners to move beyond literal recall towards analytical and evaluative engagement. Teacher A described a comparative strategy that linked folklore to contemporary life:

This approach required learners to analyse narrative content, identify underlying principles, and evaluate their relevance to contemporary contexts – a process that engages multiple levels of Bloom’s revised taxonomy. Teacher B emphasised the importance of learner-initiated meaning-making:

This response highlights a pedagogical practice in which learners are positioned as active interpreters rather than passive recipients of narrative meaning.

Regarding evidence of critical thinking, Teacher A stated that learners demonstrated analytical engagement:

Teacher D similarly observed evidence of critical thinking when learners wrote and presented short stories:

These responses indicate that critical thinking was demonstrated across multiple modalities – oral discussion, written analysis, and dramatic performance – suggesting that folklore-based pedagogy engages diverse cognitive pathways.

The critical thinking gains observed in this study support the sociocultural account of learning, particularly the operation of the ZPD (Vygotsky 1978). Teacher D’s deliberate use of higher-order questions and Teacher B’s practice of eliciting learners’ interpretations before proceeding illustrate how guided dialogic interaction scaffolds forms of reasoning that learners could not yet perform independently. The comparative task described by Teacher A, in which learners compare narrative content with contemporary life, engages the upper levels of Bloom’s revised taxonomy (analysing, evaluating, and creating) (Anderson & Krathwohl 2001), moving instruction beyond the literal recall that continues to characterise many South African classrooms (Hoadley 2017; Reeves & McMillan 2022). The moral ambiguity of traditional tales proved especially conducive to evaluative reasoning, consistent with evidence that African folklore develops analytical reasoning through engagement with morally complex characters and situations (Nnyagu & Umezinwa 2018). That critical thinking was demonstrated across oral discussion, written summaries, and dramatic performance further suggests that folklore engages multiple cognitive pathways rather than a single mode of response.

Despite the pedagogical benefits identified, teachers reported significant challenges in implementing folklore-based instruction. These included limited access to published Sepedi folklore collections, time constraints associated with curriculum coverage requirements, inadequate professional development in folklore-based pedagogical approaches, and concerns about assessment practices. Some teachers also expressed uncertainty about how best to scaffold learners’ progression from literal to evaluative engagement with folklore. Resource constraints, including the absence of school libraries and limited instructional materials, further restricted opportunities for the systematic integration of folklore.

Teacher responses revealed resource-related challenges that constrained effective folklore integration. Teacher C noted the dependence on external sources of knowledge:

While this response acknowledges the availability of community knowledge holders and published materials, it also reveals a dependency on resources that are not systematically integrated into the formal curriculum. The reliance on elders as primary knowledge holders raises concerns about the sustainability of this approach, particularly in contexts where urbanisation is weakening intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Classroom observations further confirmed considerable variation in teachers’ pedagogical approaches to folklore-based instruction. While Teacher D demonstrated confidence in employing higher-order questioning strategies, other teachers relied primarily on comprehension-based activities that remained at lower cognitive levels. Teacher C described an instructional approach centred on procedural compliance:

This response suggests an emphasis on procedural compliance rather than critical engagement with folklore, indicating that professional development in dialogic and inquiry-based pedagogical approaches remains a significant need. The absence of structured folklore resources and assessment frameworks aligned with higher-order thinking further compounded these challenges, leaving teachers to develop their own approaches with limited institutional support.

Viewed through Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the challenges reported here are not merely individual shortcomings but constraints operating across multiple systemic levels (Bronfenbrenner & Morris 2007). The scarcity of published Sepedi folklore collections limited instructional materials, and the absence of assessment frameworks represent macrosystem and exosystem conditions that no individual teacher can resolve. Although reliance on elders and community knowledge holders constitutes a valuable resource, it also exposes a fragile mesosystem connection that urbanisation and changing family structures are gradually eroding. The variation in teachers’ pedagogical confidence – from Teacher D’s confident use of higher-order questioning to Teacher C’s compliance-oriented approach – suggests that dialogic and inquiry-based teaching expertise remains unevenly developed and insufficiently supported. These findings echo barriers documented across African educational contexts (Gustafsson & Taylor 2022; Wiysahnyuy & Valentine 2023) and suggest that the pedagogical potential of folklore cannot be realised through individual teacher initiative alone but requires coordinated policy, curriculum, and professional development support.

The findings revealed that folklore-based pedagogy facilitated meaningful connections between learners’ home literacy practices and formal schooling. Teachers reported that learners with prior exposure to oral storytelling in their families and communities demonstrated stronger narrative competence and interpretive skills. Folklore-based instruction validated learners’ cultural knowledge as a legitimate educational resource, thereby improving their confidence and engagement. However, teachers also observed that urbanisation and changing family structures had reduced some learners’ exposure to traditional storytelling practices, suggesting that school-based folklore instruction serves both pedagogical and cultural preservation functions.

Teacher interviews confirmed that folklore-based instruction facilitated connections between home cultural practices and formal schooling, particularly through creative engagement. Teacher B described how learners bridged oral and literate traditions:

This response illustrates how folklore-based pedagogy enabled learners to draw on home-based oral traditions and transform them into multiple school-based literacy practices, including creative writing and dramatic performance. Teacher B further noted that learners demonstrated comprehension:

This indicates that folklore served as a bridge through which learners made intertextual connections between school-based narratives and their broader cultural knowledge.

Teacher A observed that:

Teacher C similarly noted that:

Teacher D also reported that learners demonstrated creativity:

Collectively, these responses indicate that folklore-based instruction encouraged learners to position their cultural knowledge as a legitimate resource for academic production, thereby validating home literacy practices within formal educational settings. The creative transformation of cultural narratives into written texts and dramatic performances represents a productive integration of informal and formal literacy practices that affirms learners’ cultural identities while developing school-valued competencies.

This theme most clearly demonstrates the mesosystem coherence predicted by Bronfenbrenner’s theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris 2007). When school instruction draws on the oral traditions of the home, the boundary between informal and formal learning becomes a bridge rather than a barrier. The creative transformation of folktales into written narratives and dramatic performances, reported by all four teachers, exemplifies culturally responsive pedagogy in action by positioning learners’ cultural knowledge as a legitimate foundation for academic production rather than a private competence left at the school gate (Gay 2018; Ladson-Billings 2021). At the same time, teachers’ observations that fewer learners now enter school with strong oral storytelling backgrounds indicate that school-based folklore instruction increasingly serves a cultural preservation function alongside its pedagogical role, reinforcing the argument for its systematic rather than incidental inclusion in the curriculum.

This study investigated the role of Sepedi folklore as a culturally responsive pedagogical resource for developing literacy skills and critical thinking among Grade 7 learners. The findings demonstrate that folklore-based instruction enhances vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and critical thinking while validating learners’ cultural identities and strengthening connections between home and school literacy practices. Simultaneously, the study identified important implementation challenges related to resource availability, professional development, and the alignment of assessment practices.

The strengths of this study include methodological triangulation through multiple data sources, contextual authenticity arising from research conducted in authentic classroom environments, and its focus on an under-researched indigenous language context. The qualitative design enabled a rich exploration of implementation processes and contextual factors that may have been overlooked in quantitative approaches. However, the study also has several limitations, including the purposive sampling strategy that limits the transferability to other circuits and provinces. In addition, the cross-sectional design precludes an assessment of the sustained impact of folklore-based instruction over time. Future research employing longitudinal designs and larger samples across diverse contexts would strengthen the evidence base.

The findings have important implications for educational policy, teacher education, and curriculum development. First, professional development programmes should equip teachers with pedagogical strategies for integrating folklore into literacy instruction, including dialogic questioning techniques that scaffold learners’ progression towards higher-order thinking. Second, curriculum developers should produce comprehensive Sepedi folklore resources aligned with CAPS requirements, including structured lesson plans and assessment rubrics that address multiple cognitive levels. Third, schools should establish partnerships with community knowledge holders and cultural organisations to document and preserve oral traditions for educational use. Finally, assessment frameworks should be revised to incorporate culturally responsive assessment methods, including oral presentations, storytelling performances, and narrative-based comprehension tasks that capture higher-order thinking beyond conventional written assessments.