HIT THE BOOKS
YOU South Africa|16 March 2023
New statistics paint a shocking picture of SA children's reading abilities. Experts tell us how to help your kids improve their skills
KESHIA AFRICA
HIT THE BOOKS

IT'S a scene many teachers are familiar with a primary school child staring at their book, battling to read basic words such as apple, balloon and flower. And when they reach the end of the page they might as well be reading Greek because many can't comprehend how the words fit together in context.

New statistics show that 82% of South African children in Grade 4 don't understand what they're reading and 60% of children entering Grade 2 don't know the alphabet.

President Cyril Ramaphosa set a target in 2019 that all children aged 10 and older should be able to read for meaning by 2030. But there's no chance of all children being up to speed within seven years, according to a bombshell report recently released by the 2030 Reading Panel, an independent team established to track the progress made towards achieving this target.

In fact, at the rate we're going, it will take 86 years or until 2108 - before 95% of children will, at last, be able to understand what they're reading, the panel predicts.

There are many factors in play - poor teaching methods in the foundation phase, the valuable time pupils lost because of Covid-19 restrictions, and the fact that teachers promote rote learning rather than giving pupils the skills they need to read independently and draw their own conclusions.

The ramifications of the poor reading skills are immense, experts say. "Reading skills should be the main focus of education, especially during the early years of education," says Melanie Moen of Stellenbosch University's department of educational psychology.

Not being able to read with comprehension hampers a child's ability to do well in all subjects, says Professor Jonathan Jansen of Stellenbosch University's education department.

"It will have academic consequences that can stretch throughout a child's school career," he adds. "You can't build strong matriculants with a weak foundation phase."

この記事は YOU South Africa の 16 March 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は YOU South Africa の 16 March 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

YOU SOUTH AFRICAのその他の記事すべて表示
TWICE AS NICE!
YOU South Africa

TWICE AS NICE!

Adrien Brody’s best actor Oscar has put him among a handful of performers who’ve won the award a second time

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025
NEW LOVE TO HEAL OUR HEARTS
YOU South Africa

NEW LOVE TO HEAL OUR HEARTS

They've both known devastating loss but their relationship has helped to fill the void in the lives

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025
CLUB OF WOE
YOU South Africa

CLUB OF WOE

Manchester United are struggling under crippling debt and sinking dangerously close to the relegation zone

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025
OLDER AND WISER
YOU South Africa

OLDER AND WISER

It’s one of Brooke Shields’ big regrets – that she waited until she was 22 to lose her virginity and then let her hangups stop her from exploring her sexuality. Now as the actress navigates menopause, she opens up in a new memoir about how hormone replacement, backgammon and make-up sex have helped keep her marriage on track

time-read
9 分  |
13 March 2025
Is it a plane? No, it's a car!
YOU South Africa

Is it a plane? No, it's a car!

IMAGINE a world where people don't have to plan their lives around traffic, where you no longer worry about a traffic jam making you late for class or your sports practice.

time-read
2 分  |
13 March 2025
HOW TO GET RID OF AN APRON BELLY
YOU South Africa

HOW TO GET RID OF AN APRON BELLY

An overhanging belly isn't just frustrating, it can also make you prone to infections and posture problems. Here are three ways to shift it

time-read
5 分  |
13 March 2025
MOM'S THE WORD
YOU South Africa

MOM'S THE WORD

Octomom Natalie Suleman has decided to speak out about her choices and her 14 children because she's tired of 'living in hiding'

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025
DON'T POKE THE BEAR
YOU South Africa

DON'T POKE THE BEAR

After his White House battering, Volodymyr Zelenskyy could learn a lesson from other world leaders about how to handle the world’s most powerful man

time-read
5 分  |
13 March 2025
MY FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
YOU South Africa

MY FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

A Cape Town mom was horrified when she got an exorbitant cellphone bill after a holiday in France – and she wasn't about to leave it there

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025
'NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE'
YOU South Africa

'NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE'

A devastating virus robbed Chris of his sight yet he's brought light and hope to many young lives

time-read
4 分  |
13 March 2025