
Discussion: National Urgency to Transform Early-Grade Reading
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Johannesburg, 25 February 2025 - Just weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of
the Nation Address (SONA), where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to
“ensuring that every child can read for meaning in the foundation phase,” a new report
has been released by the 2030 Reading Panel. The 2025 report, released today in
Johannesburg, provides critical insights into the country’s progress in transforming
early-grade reading. One of the key findings of the report is that 80% of Grade 3 learners
cannot read for meaning in any language as measured by the South African systemic
assessment. Phemelo is joined in studio by Equal Education General Secretary
Noncedo Madubedube to unpack the findings and recommendations of the report
the Nation Address (SONA), where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to
“ensuring that every child can read for meaning in the foundation phase,” a new report
has been released by the 2030 Reading Panel. The 2025 report, released today in
Johannesburg, provides critical insights into the country’s progress in transforming
early-grade reading. One of the key findings of the report is that 80% of Grade 3 learners
cannot read for meaning in any language as measured by the South African systemic
assessment. Phemelo is joined in studio by Equal Education General Secretary
Noncedo Madubedube to unpack the findings and recommendations of the report