South Africa’s reading crisis persists. Only 30% of Grade 1-3 learners can read at their grade level, and 15% of Grade 3 pupils cannot read a single word.

They are statistics that highlight the serious challenges in foundational literacy.

Terence Khala, acting director for communications and researcher at the Department of Basic Education, says while worrying, targeted interventions are in place.

One, he says, is a systemic evaluation that the Department itself has put in place, by way of the Funda Umphumulele National Reading Survey launched last year.

"I think what that does is allow the Department to take stock of itself on an ongoing basis."

ALSO READ: Basic Education Department to implement language-specific strategies to address the reading crisis in Grades 1 to 3

Another intervention, notes Khala, is 'reading champions' launched through the Basic Education Employment Initiative. 

"Provinces are increasingly introducing sustained collaborative reading improvement programmes, which is powerful; we've seen these programmes taking shape."

But regardless of the initiatives, the statistics remain.

"I think these are some of the ongoing challenges that we want to address; continued ongoing teacher development is something that we back, and we put a lot of emphasis on."

But the responsibility must extend beyond teachers, says Khala. He points to initiatives like the reading champions, but also the involvement of the private sector in donating books and reading support tools.

"Especially for schools that don't have a brick-and-mortar library."

The statistics also highlight stark inequalities across income groups and communities.

Learners in no-fee paying schools are four times more likely to be unable to read a word. By Sara-Jayne Makwala King, EWN