Why 15% of South African Grade 3s can’t read a single word — and what’s being done about it
Daily Maverick | 26.02.2026 19:27
Imagine sitting at a scuffed wooden desk, staring down at an open textbook. The teacher is speaking, pointing to the page, expecting you to follow along. But to you, the letters are not words. They are just a tangled sea of black ink, meaningless squiggles, sharp angles and disconnected circles that look more like broken twigs than a story. So, you sit there in silence, pretending to read, hoping the teacher doesn’t call your name.
