South Africa: Education Shocker - SA Child Reading Rates Far Lower Than Hoped

analysis

The results of an international study of child literacy are in - and they spell bad news for South Africa. Of the 50 countries surveyed for reading ability among school kids, South Africa came stone last. More alarmingly, however, the study also found that eight out of 10 South African Grade 4s cannot read for meaning. The Department of Basic Education is putting a brave spin on the results, but education experts say that it's clear South Africa's reading crisis is deeper than previously imagined. By REBECCA DAVIS.

After evaluating the reading skills of 9- and 10-year-olds in 50 countries around the world, South Africa ranked lowest, according to the results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Studies (PIRLS) global assessment, released on Tuesday.

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