Reading with Understanding: A Silent Crisis in South Africa

Reading with Understanding: A Silent Crisis in South Africa In a country like South Africa, where the wounds of inequality are still healing, education remains the most powerful tool for progress. But what happens when the very foundation of education— reading with understanding —is broken? Sadly, this is not just a hypothetical question. We are living the reality. Across many communities, especially in under-resourced areas, we see a disturbing trend: many young people are completing Grade 12 without being able to read properly , let alone understand what they’re reading. And the problem doesn’t end there— many parents, through no fault of their own, also lack basic literacy skills , which means they cannot support their children’s learning at home. This situation is more than a national embarrassment. It’s a national emergency . The Root of the Problem The issue begins early. Children who don't master reading by the end of Grade 3 often fall further and further behind each y...