South Africa’s basic education minister, Angie Motshekga has advised parents to encourage reading culture in children by buying them books instead of toys and sweets.
The Minister made the call at a briefing media at the weekend which highlighted various education-related issues
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Angie Motshekga said that eight out of 10 grade 4 pupils cannot read for comprehension and that “it takes a village for children to read. Angie Motshekga pitched on the importance of society recognizing that learning doesn’t start at grade R, but at zero,”
She said ensuring that children are ready for school and sustain what they are being taught” should be a collective responsibility.
“While as a department we play a very important role in supporting early learning skills and teaching children how to read, the entire ecosystem must be involved.” She advised.
“We can buy children sweets and cakes, they will enjoy them for the moment. We can buy them toys, but they are likely to outgrow them or even break. But if you buy them books, you are giving them a life.
“For their birthdays, buy them books. Don’t buy them toys only. The festival season is coming so if you buy them sweets, also make sure that you buy them a book. That’s the advice we are giving to parents,” Angie Motshekga advised.
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In May, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls) revealed that 81% of grade 4 pupils in South Africa can’t read for meaning
South Africa is among three African countries that participate in Pirls. The country tested grades 4 and 6 from August to December 2021, in all 11 languages.
