SAHRC concerned about the decline in SA literacy

JOHANNESBURG - The state of reading in South Africa is a matter of deep concern.

This is indicated in the results of a literacy study done in 2021.

The fact that 81-percent of Grade 4 pupils in the country are unable to read for meaning in any language is worrying.

The South African Human Rights Commission says it's concerned about this alarming trend.

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SAHRC André Gaum said, "this figure of 81-percent is also up from 78-percent in 2016."

"South Africa ranked last in the 43 countries that participated."

"[South Africa] experienced the largest decline of all the countries participating."

"The minister of education expressed her disappointment, she attributed it to the Covid-19 epidemic."