How SA is flying half-blind on its youngest children

SOUTH Africa prides itself on having world-class data on schools, matric results, and university enrolments. Yet for children under five, the country’s youngest learners, the state is effectively flying blind.

- WENDY DONDOLO

An estimated six million children, roughly 10% of the population, are growing up in a “data desert’, invisible to government systems responsible for education, health, and social protection.

Experts warn that this lack of information threatens both children’s development and South Africa’s long-term economic potential as the first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for all future learning, health, and productivity. Yet this critical stage remains one of the most neglected areas in South Africa’s education system.

“Quality early childhood education provides persistent, lifelong benefits to the child and society long after they have left preschool,’ said economist James Heckman.

This week the Department of Basic Education (DBE) raised the alarm over poor reading fluency among South African pupils. According to the newly released Funda Uphumelele National Survey, only 31% of Grade 1 learners could recognise at least 40 letter sounds per minute, the national benchmark for reading readiness.

The survey found that English-assessed pupils were most likely to meet the benchmark, followed by those tested in Afrikaans and isiXhosa. However, the results show that the majority of children are still far behind in developing basic reading skills needed for comprehension by Grade 4.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the results confirm that many children are not yet reaching the necessary reading fluency benchmarks. “Too many children are not on track to read with understanding by Grade 4,” she said during the report's release in Pretoria.