The DBE, in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), has taken a decisive step to strengthen foundational literacy in South Africa by strengthening the implementation of the National Reading and Literacy Strategy. The DBE and the NECT hosted a Reading Improvement Orientation Programme (RIOP) at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in the Gauteng Province, under the theme: “Translating Policy into Practice by Building Foundations for District Reading Improvement”, from 15 to 16 July 2025.
In building capacity for reading improvement, the workshop brought together 153 Subject Advisors and 27 Chief Education Specialists (CESs) and Deputy Chief Education Specialists (DCESs) from nine provinces and 7 NECT staff, including 9 District Change Agents who support 47 Districts in 6 provinces across the country. It aimed to build their capacity to support the implementation of the National Reading and Literacy Strategy at both provincial and district levels.
The RIOP forms part of the broader implementation plan for the National Reading and Literacy Strategy, Integrated District Improvement Programme (IDIP), which also includes the District Support Programme, the Reading Improvement Programme, and Learner and Teacher Welfare initiatives. Over the two days, participants gained both theoretical and practical knowledge on key aspects of reading improvement, including: Phonics instruction; Handwriting development; Formative assessment; Effective use of DBE-approved reading materials; and District and School based planning.
Opening the workshop, Mr Enoch Rabotapi, Acting Deputy Director-General for the Teachers, Human Resource and Institutional Development Branch at the DBE, underscored the urgency of addressing the country’s literacy challenges. He referred to findings from the 2021 Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS), which revealed that 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language. Many learners struggle with retrieving basic information and making simple inferences, with poor outcomes even when tested in their home languages. This reflects systemic challenges including: weak foundational instruction; limited vocabulary development; poor decoding skills; and language barriers.
In response, the DBE and the NECT have reviewed the national reading plan, first introduced in 2019, and developed a revised framework informed by identified gaps. The new plan rests on four key pillars: These are the Development of a comprehensive national reading policy; the Capacitation of skilled and agile teachers; the Provision of culturally relevant Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM); and Increased engagement with parents and communities. A key emphasis of the framework is Mother Tongue-Based Learning, which supports meaning-making and comprehension in early reading.
The strategy also seeks to reverse the historical neglect of African languages in literacy instruction. Speaking at the workshop, Mr Bailey Nkuna, Reading Project Coordinator at the NECT, highlighted the phased implementation approach: “Our primary focus now is the Foundation Phase, where early reading skills are established. From next year, we will shift our attention to strengthening reading in the Intermediate and Senior Phases to ensure continuity and progression across the system,” he said.
The workshop provided participants with the opportunity to reflect on progress, challenges and ways of accelerating reading improvement in their districts. It concluded with the development of renewed implementation plans that showed considerable potential to upgrade existing programmes.
Looking ahead, the DBE and the NECT plan to train 10,016 Departmental Heads, who will then support 20,032 teachers through support workshops and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in six provinces: KwaZulu-Natal; the Eastern Cape; Limpopo; the North West; Mpumalanga; and the Northern Cape. In addition, the DBE will extend support to Gauteng, the Free State, and the Western Cape to ensure national alignment with the literacy goals of the National Reading Literacy Strategy.
The RIOP marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to ensure that every child in South Africa has the opportunity to acquire strong foundational reading skills, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and success.