Former MEC for Education in Gauteng, who is currently with the University of Johannesburg as Senior Research Associate, Professor Mary Metcalfe says that South Africa needs to devote more time to reading, the practice of reading and the teaching of reading
This comes after the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) report that was released on Tuesday revealed that South Africa ranked last in reading of the 50 participating countries in the international comparison study that measured literacy levels between 2011 and 2016.
The literacy crisis in South Africa is far worse than previously thought, with the discovery that 78% of Grade 4 learners are unable to read.
“This is a good opportunity for the country to sit back and say “what’s going wrong?” Because our young people deserve better and if we don’t get it right by Grade 4, then it means that we are undermining their ability to achieve their potential.”
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