Basic Education Dept defends low literacy rates

JOHANNESBURG - Basic Education is trying to justify poor literacy rates among primary school children.

A recent study found over 80 percent of Grade 4s can't read for understanding.

READ: Education in SA | Literacy failure is a "national crisis"

The department argues the study used international benchmarks.

It says it did not consider the impact of the country's eleven official languages.

READ: Education Dept to relook teaching in SA's official languages

It says this poses an additional obstacle to progress in education.

Government is looking into tweaking its approach to teaching and learning.