International Literacy Day is celebrated annually around the world on 8 September and Oxford University Press observes the day in support and endorsement of literacy in all its forms.

Founded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1967, International Literacy Day celebrations have since taken place across the globe to remind the international community of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. (1)

In its simplest definition, ‘literacy’ refers to the ability to read and write. In broader terms, it encompasses ways of thinking and doing reading and writing with the purpose of understanding and expressing thoughts or ideas in written form within specific contexts.

 Global literacy is a cause for celebration since the rate for adults 15 years and above stands at 86,3% in 2023. (2) While, on the surface, this is a successful statistic, closer inspection reveals a deeply unequal divide.

According to data released by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, literacy rates for youth and adults continue to rise. Young women aged 15 – 24 are making the strongest gains, but still lag behind young men. In 2011, 87% of female youth had basic literacy skills, compared to 92% of males. Overall, more than half of countries with data have youth literacy rates of 95% or higher. (3)

 South Africa’s national literacy rate at last measured in 2015, came in at 94,6%, which appears to be an excellent rating. (4)  Against the backdrop of that high rating though, comes the stark reality of the May 2023 release of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) findings, showing South Africa finishing dramatically lower than the average of the 57 countries in the study. Outcomes revealed that a staggering 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning in any language, including their mother tongue. (5)

These grim statistics further prove that our education system is in crisis. Intervention is critical and it is left to educational specialists to do whatever possible to seek impactful change in the classroom and in the home. 

Oxford University Press recognises the power of education to uplift and equip individuals and communities to better their lives. They therefore develop, produce and deliver high quality, affordable educational materials and support, based on the demands of learners, students and educators.

As South Africa’s number one dictionary and literacy publisher, Oxford University Press produces a wide range of quality curriculum-compliant educational material for use in the classroom and at home. For over a century, they have used local research experts and authors,publishing over 2700 books in 11 official languages to reach millions of students and educators.

Commitment to advancing teaching and learning in South Africa is paramount to the Oxford University Press ethos. They acknowledge the power of words, the joy of reading, and the transformative potential of education.

In one of many commitments to redress the literacy challenge in South Africa, Oxford University Press partnered with AVBOB for the second year of their joint Road to Literacy library campaign.

Through this partnership, 260 trolley libraries, equipped with 500 books each, were donated to schools across the country. Each library trolley was valued at R50 000, amounting to a total investment of R13 million.

Managing Director of Oxford University Press, Hanri Pieterse, highlighted the importance of literacy at the Road to Literacy campaign launch in June stating that, “Giving children the gift of reading is an invaluable direct investment in the future of every child in South Africa.” 

To coincide with International Literacy Day, Oxford University Press will launch a literacy publication ‘A, B, See’ at the annual Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA) conference at Nelson Mandela University today, highlighting their solutions to the reading crisis in South Africa. A link to a digital copy of the publication can be found here: https://www.calameo.com/oxford-university-press-south-africa/read/006710753990bead9a337

References

(1) www.unesco.org

(2) www.worldpopulationreview.com

(3) www.gov.za/InternationalLiteracyDay2023

(4) www.worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/literacy-rate-by-country

(5) https://pirls2021.org/