The Literacy Crisis

THE ABILITY TO READ CAN TRANSFORM A LIFE

SOUTH AFRICA IS EXPERIENCING A LITERACY CRISIS

80% of Grade 5 learners, between the ages of 9 and 10 year’s old, have not mastered basic reading skills.

“South African primary schools are failing to equip learners with basic literacy skills”

Dr Nick Taylor, CEO – National Education Evaluation & Development Unit (NEEDU)

The majority of primary schools in South Africa are severely under resourced. Two or three books are shared between an entire classroom of learners, while writing utensils and literacy resources are scarce. Few children from poor township communities have books at home, and libraries are often too far away for these learners to access on a regular basis, if at all.

These factors rob many South African children of the opportunities to develop literacy skills and fall in love with reading.

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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO LITERACY

The effects of the literacy crisis in South Africa are far-reaching, and touch every area of South African society, deeply affecting and further marginalizing the poor.

EDUCATION

The ability to read is the building block for learning, and ensures children get the most out of their schooling.

EMPLOYMENT

Literacy directly tackles unemployment by upskilling people to a level where they can secure a job or start a business, and make a meaningful contribution to society.

DEMOCRACY

Children who love to read go on to become constructive and participatory members of society. According to Afrobarometer, primary schooling doesn’t only promote literacy, it “promotes citizen endorsement of democracy”.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Central to a thriving South African economy is a literate, educated and skilled workforce. It is estimated that South Africa’s GDP would be 23% – 30% higher if the population was fully literate¹.

HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE LITERACY CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA

We believe literacy at the primary school level is the most cost-effective investment in the fight against poverty and poor educational achievement in South Africa. Which is why we are dedicated to helping children from disadvantaged communities learn to read.

Our literacy intervention programmes are run in South African primary schools, and provide children who struggle to read with one-on-one attention from a community Literacy Tutor. Through consistent literacy input, reading help and fun activities, the children that participate in our programmes not only learn to read, they fall in love with it.