Magnitude of literacy level decline 'no surprise' - Motshekga
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on the country's literacy levels.
Motshekga briefed the media on Sunday following the release of the results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) last month.
The reading ability study, which was conducted in 50 countries, saw South African pupils finish bottom of the pile.
Motshekga said reading competencies in South Africa declined due to pandemic-related school disruptions, similiar to other countries.
“Over the past month there has been a very good debate about reading in schools. The ongoing public discourse on reading intensified when the results of the PIRLS were released.
“The magnitude of our decline relating to the pandemic does not come as a surprise.
“South Africa was amongst the countries most actively gauging impacts on learning outcomes during the pandemic and the results we see now in PIRLS are in line with the earlier findings that we did say as the department.”
The minister again urged parents and guardians to promote a reading culture at home.
“More than anything, for us what is important about PIRLS and the reading is that we have to recognise that learning does not start at Grade R. It starts at zero.
“There are steps that the department can take but it is also what parents can do.
“That is why we have been going on roadshows to make sure that all of us as villagers can identify our role in ensuring that our children are ready for school and when they are in school they can sustain whatever is being taught.
“Whilst as a department we play a very important role in supporting early learning skills and teaching children how to read, the entire ecosystem must also be involved.”
Motshekga said parents and guardians need to buy children books instead of sweets or toys.
“We had also the release of the reading barometer and one of the things they were raising is that you can buy children sweets and cakes and they will enjoy them for the moment.
“We can buy them toys, they are likely to outgrow them or they break. But if you buy them books, you are giving them life. We are trying to mobilise young parents to say if it is your child’s birthday, buy them books. Don’t buy them toys only."
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