Nurturing The Love Of Reading: A Case For Economic Growth And Inclusion
Free joining the world to commemorate 15Th Read aloud for a day on World Anniversary
according to Advances in International Reading Literacy Research (PIRLS) 2021 report, South Africa ranks last among 57 countries in terms of literacy. one Eight out of 10 children struggle to read when they are 10 years old. This is a striking statistic, especially given the challenges South Africa faces in achieving its economic goals, with recent data highlighting the slow growth in the country, with a stagnation of 0.6%.
Although the correlation between literacy levels and economic growth may not always be obvious, research shows that economies with higher literacy rates tend to experience stronger economic activity. This is because literacy includes not only the ability to read, write, speak and listen – it also involves the ability to communicate effectively and understand the world around us.
Given this looming social problem, Liberty plays a key role in helping primary school learners better understand the world through it Read aloud programIt has been in operation since 2001. Through this initiative, driven by employee volunteers from Liberty, the organization has adopted five primary schools in Gauteng and has conducted reading courses there. So far, volunteers have held more than 900 meetings and reached more than 5,000 students, mainly from non-paid schools in townships.
“This type of work really sparks our passion.” Noma Matjila, head of social investment in free enterprise. “It is aligned with our broader efforts in the fields of mathematics, science and English. But most importantly, our commitment to increasing literacy supports the national agenda to increase absorption of STEM subjects in high and middle levels.”
Matjila believes that by increasing literacy rates at an early stage, Liberty, along with other major players in the education sector, is helping to build a solid learner who will be more inclined to see traditionally as a difficult subject.
“For children, reading ability is a fundamental skill that opens the door to lifelong success,” she explains. “Literacy not only builds confidence in solving complex topics such as science and mathematics, but also develops critical life skills such as understanding , imagination and self-assurance.”
“As we celebrate World Read aloud for a day on February 4thWe are very proud of our contribution to this cause. Matjila added. “Our commitment is long-term and ensures that our participation has a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of learners. ”
“We believe that sustainable community engagement, positive impacts not only benefit learners themselves, but also contribute to the wider economy,” she concluded.
