Illiteracy Rife in South Africa

"A third of South African Adults have little or no schooling" according to the Sunday Times. This means that a third of South Africans haven't completed primary school.

 

There isn't a culture of reading. Only 27% of schools have libraries. Poverty is mentioned as another factor. What's more there hasn't been any improvement in the situation for over 5 years.

 

I have another view. I agree that poverty may be a hindering factor, but surely something can be done to supply reading material to poor schools for free. What about old magazines and newspapers? Many of the more "wealthy" families buy "kiddy books" for their youngsters - can these not be collected and distributed instead of just trashed when the child has outgrown them? I'm sure the READ organization has some kind of initiative in this regard.

 

I personally don't think poverty should be used as an excuse. Rather that same poverty should be used as a motivator to get out of the situation. I think that the real reason for poor performance of our children in school has more to do with the parent's "don't care" attitude, than the child's willingness to learn. Too many parent's place the responsibility of education with schools, instead of accepting that responsibility themselves. (In my opinion, there is a difference between Education and Teaching. It's the school's responsibility to teach, but the parent's responsibility to educate - but that's another discussion for another blog entry). Parents should rather be taking more of an active interest in their children's education. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it takes effort. Yes, a parent may have to "sacrifice" some booze or cigarettes in order to get their kids some reading material - but isn't that cost worth it? The only long term solution to the poverty situation is education. All it needs is for people to care.

 

Reading is hard work. It's not a quick-fix like television or PlayStation - but it informs, and it enriches! I care - do you?

 

We at School Report Services (www.SchoolReportServices.com), try to assist parents via the schools with a service that tracks their children's progress every school term. The service is affordable. Heck, it's even cheap enough for the Education Department to subsidise!