Our kids are lost in words

At current pace, it would take 86 years for all children to achieve basic proficiency.

- Thando Nondywana

South Africa's literacy crisis is deepening, with the latest 2030 Reading Panel report highlighting that 80% of grade 3 pupils still cannot read for meaning.

They cannot read in any language, as measured by the South African Systemic Assessment released on Tuesday, affirming years of international studies highlighting the country's worsening reading crisis.

This year's report focused on pupil reading outcomes and explores recent strategies that have shown promise in improving literacy levels aimed at getting all children to read by 2030.

The report noted that 81% of Grade 4 pupils struggle with reading comprehension in any language.

Only 20% of Grade 3 pupils meet the required reading standards for their grade level; 3% demonstrate advanced reading comprehension and independent learning abilities; and 17% possess the expected foundational knowledge and skills.

This was in contrast to the 80% of pupils who have not reached grade-level proficiency, 43% have had reached the required standard of reading, while 37% are "emerging" readers who are beginning to develop foundational literacy.