News & Articles

A new national survey reveals that South Africans read more than we think and 83% of South Africans read in some way, whether for pleasure, to learn new things or to communicate with others, and 32% read books regularly. However, they still face significant challenges accessing reading material, especially in African languages, and most children are growing up without any children’s books at home. This is…

The latest results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study  indicate that basic literacy among South African children has further deteriorated. An astounding 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language. This rate went up from 78% pre-pandemic, which evidently suggests that the South African literacy crisis is far from over. Collaborative efforts such as Yizani Sifunde are believed to be…

Cape Town, Friday, 19 May 2023 –  The recently released Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 results revealed that 81% of 1,127 877 grade 4 learners assessed in 2021 cannot read for meaning. The country’s response mechanisms and solutions to this crisis however remains unchanged.  The Director of Nal’ibali, Nqabakazi Gina said, “We cannot rely on fragmented interventions and linear solutions to address…