In a country where 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, Thanda says it is working to provide children with the essential skills they need to shape their futures.

The issue of literacy in South Africa is a long-standing concern. According to the Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) results, nationally, 26% of children entering Grade 0 / Grade R (ages 5 to 6) are "falling behind" and 19% are "falling far behind" in emergent literacy and language. These statistics illustrate the growing crisis in early education — one that can only be addressed by providing sustained, focused support from a young age.

In response, Thanda says it began piloting the Family Literacy Project's 'Reach Out to Read (RoTR)' isiZulu reading programme at Msinsini Primary School in Mtwalume, KwaZulu-Natal, in April, aiming to boost literacy levels for children using evidence-based methods. By focusing on isiZulu phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, the programme ensures that every child has the building blocks they need to succeed in reading in their home language before learning to read in an additional language.

The 'RoTR' programme uses a multi-sensory approach to teaching reading, incorporating sight, sound and touch to engage students fully, adds the organisation. 

In just 12 months, Thanda says its team has made significant strides in addressing the literacy gap. In the Grade 1 cohort, learners showed an improvement of over 800% in letter sounds and a nearly 3 000% improvement in passage reading when assessed using the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) tool over eight months. Grade 2 learners demonstrated nearly 250% improvement in recognising letter sounds and Grade 3 learners saw increases of 148% in letter sounds, 57% in word reading, 27% in passage reading and 45% in comprehension.

To further understand the impact of the pilot, Thanda says it compared Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) scores from two groups of learners at the same grade level, one year apart. Children entering Grade 1 in 2025 scored 1.8 times higher in letter sounds than those in the same grade a year earlier. Grade 2 learners in 2025 scored twice as high, while those entering Grade 3 scored more than double. These improvements are especially meaningful given the programme's strong emphasis on phonics, and they show that even in under-resourced environments, it is possible to shift learning outcomes in a short space of time.

Angela Larkan, Executive Director at Thanda, says, "Our work is about far more than just reading — it's about empowering children with the skills they need to access knowledge, engage in society and build a future for themselves. Literacy is the foundation of all learning, and it is through building those foundations that we can help break the cycle of poverty."

Thanda concludes that World Book Day may encourage students to dress up as their favourite characters, but for many children in rural South Africa, the ability to read is the true key to unlocking a world of possibilities.

For more information, visit www.thanda.org. You can also follow Thanda on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor