Enough talk — it’s time to make literacy a right in South Africa

A Supreme Court of Appeal judgment from 2015 established that every South African pupil should receive textbooks in every subject at the start of the academic year. This ruling emphasized literacy as a fundamental human right, linking it to hope, poverty reduction, development, and cultural identity. However, 81% of Grade 4 pupils in South Africa still struggle to read with comprehension, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds and African language-speaking households.

The Constitution guarantees a right to basic education, which courts have progressively interpreted to mean immediate realization through resources like textbooks, infrastructure, nutrition, and transport.

Despite numerous statements from political leaders emphasizing literacy, actions have fallen short. Reading plans and programmes have been fragmented and poorly managed, with the latest National Literacy Strategy lacking clear regulations. While some provinces have adopted evidence-based interventions, lack of standardization across regions leaves many pupils vulnerable to falling behind.

Educators agree on four key strategies to enhance literacy: improving teacher training, providing appropriate texts, allocating sufficient time for reading, and implementing regular assessments.

Codifying these strategies into binding regulations could enhance accountability and ensure consistent implementation across South Africa. Drawing lessons from Brazil's success, political leadership emerges as crucial for large-scale educational reform. The urgency to recognize literacy as a fundamental right cannot be overstated.