After eighteen years of intensive research in the field of reading, and helping learners in respect to reading and study difficulties, Marietjie and Willem Fourie proceeded to establish the company Ecoltech in the year of 1988.
Already during 1976 Willem was the senior researcher at the HSRC in the field of reading. His first extensive survey was done on the nature and extends of reading difficulties in Primary Schools throughout South Africa. In this survey 762 schools were involved nationally, making available 7 329 teachers and 242 564 children for this research project. During the mid seventies Willem Fourie produced a book on the nature and condition of the reading level of learners in South Africa. Already in this book he stated the dwindling condition and ability of learners in respect to reading in South Africa.
Reading aids available in the market were not effective enough and Ecoltech embarked on a revolutionary journey in the South African market. Ecoltech developed and produced the first Afrikaans computerized reading intervention program in 1992, the “ene oë”. The English version of the “ene oë” is the “all eyes”, a DOS based program which were rolled out simultaneously. As Researcher and Developer Ecoltech holds the novelty and the IP of the “ene oë” as the leader in the field of reading interventions software and as first-to-market developer. The digital age started to pave an information super highway across the barriers of all nations and their research and development continue to migrate using novelty and cutting-edge technology to meet future demands. Since the “ene oë” Ecoltech produced the Lector® 3.1 in 1996, the Lector® 2000 in 1999, the Lector®4 in 2004 (with 5 major upgrades during these 5 years), Lector®6 in 2009 and with their flagship the Lector®LAB currently in the second phase of development, to be rolled out in the last quarter of 2010.
Being a player in the international market since the era of the combo 8 reading machines, they are widely acknowledged as a reputable company. As one of the leading research and development companies internationally, they supply reading interventions and solutions to the entire market segment, the Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and also to the Corporate sector. Due to their name, their history of research and development, their first-to-market approach and their general stand in the marketplace Ecoltech is a sought after company by institutions throughout the market segment. Producing tailor made solutions bringing accuracy and efficiency in the productivity curve in the various areas of the market, by acting as consultants and trainers for reading interventions. Their solutions are widely applied across the national market with more than 750 current users of their software in reading intervention. Other users of their research and development are some of the best schools in our country (primary and secondary) this year also among the top 10 schools. To mention a few of the tertiary institutions using our solutions - Potchefstroom University has been an established user since the “ene oë” days in the early nineties migrating with Ecoltech over the years. In 2007 they started to use the Lector®4 to help all the first year students enrolling with the university before they continue with studies. University of Pretoria is another faithful user of our program at student support and development. Since 2007 it is compulsory for all students identified for the Junior Tukkies project to complete the Lector® course. The results produced in these groups over the years has made the Lector®solution an integrated part of the Junior Tukkies project. The Nelspruit campus of the Tswane University of Technology also has been a faithful user of their solutions since the “ene oë” program has been rolled out in 1992. In the corporate market they have produced solutions to management teams and secretarial teams enabling them to process the workload quicker and more accurate including customers like; CCM and Escom. They also provide training solutions in the field of reading intervention nationally, by training reading therapists and teachers. Many reading centres across South Africa are founded on the research and development done by Ecoltech using programs produced by them and many are also trained by Ecoltech in the area of reading intervention. Ecoltech has been presenting training seminars in regards to reading intervention since the early eighties.
To mention a few of the people currently involve in reading intervention in South Africa who underwent the training and equipping of Ecoltech:
Me. Lotta de Beer from Stimilus Maxima now operating the program Reader Rocket ,
Mr. Jan Venter now operating the Academix reading program,
Me. Martie Beukes from Potch University,
Me. Mpho Marumo from the Department of Education,
Me. Tina Cowley the franchisor of the Tina Cowley franchises,
Me. Suzette van Zyl now operating Reading Excellence reading program,
Me. Ida Meyer from University of Pretoria,
Mr.Petrus Lombaard from the JuniorTukie project.
The DOS architecture of the “ene oë” and the “all eyes” solution, researched and developed by Ecoltech, were sold to Tina in 2001 this program is still in use in the Tina Cowley Reading Centres across South Africa to help learners with the improvement of their reading.
Minda Marshall the director of Lector SA has helped to establish Lector powered by Ecoltech Centres in South Africa, some running only 5 but up to 200 stations per server using the Lector® solution to impact and help learners effectively and efficiently. These centres are established across the socio-economic boundaries of South Africa, rendering significant results, truly empowering individuals and groups for their continuous learning experience. There are currently negotiations with players in the international market who are seeking to bring the Lector technology to their countries, as the reading deficiency in learners are not only a local phenomenon, but a global occurrence.
