The Read to Lead Campaign was officially launched on 22 July 2015 and will continue over the next four years (2015-2019). The focus of the Campaign is to improve the reading abilities of all South African children whilst the main aim of the Campaign is to ensure that all learners are able to demonstrate age appropriate levels of reading by 2019. This is also a response to national, regional and international studies that have been conducted during the past few years showing that South African children are not able to read at expected levels, and are unable to execute tasks that demonstrate key skills associated with Literacy. The Campaign will provide teachers and schools with clear directives on the Department’s expectations of achieving the expected levels of performance. Whilst the improvement in learner achievement is an important aim of the Campaign, children should be motivated to make reading a lifestyle choice. We therefore need the collective support of everyone to change attitudes and instil a passion for this critical skill.

Reading is a foundational skill on which all other learning is built and creates the opportunity for access to career opportunities and for individuals to effectively participate in a democracy. The Campaign calls on a variety of partners and stakeholders to engage in developing and maintaining a reading culture. The Department aims to increase the average learner performance in Literacy/Language to 75% by the end of the Campaign. In working towards achieving this aim, the Department is also hoping that in the long term, a culture of reading will be reflected in sustained activities in schools, homes, communities and business.