4 Inspiring organisations tackling literacy crisis among South African children

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), a global assessment conducted every five years by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, In 2024, PIRLS shed light on the deepening literacy crisis in South Africa. The 2021 report delivered a sobering statistic: 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, a concerning increase from 78% in 2016.

The assessment, conducted in all 11 official languages, revealed stark disparities. Learners in Afrikaans and English performed notably better, while those studying in African languages lagged behind. This literacy gap disproportionately affects schools in rural areas and townships, where educational resources are often scarce, and infrastructure is inadequate.

Despite the Department of Education acknowledging the crisis and implementing measures to address it, government schools—where the majority of affected learners are enrolled—continue to struggle. The need for targeted, sustainable interventions has never been greater.

Fortunately, where systemic efforts have fallen short, non-profit organisations and literacy advocates have stepped in to bridge the gap. These dedicated groups focus on early childhood development, the foundation phase, and the intermediate phase, working tirelessly to instill a love for reading and equip children with the skills they need to succeed.

Bookdash

Founded in 2014, Book Dash began as a passion project to create high-quality, affordable African storybooks. After successful events in Cape Town, co-founders Arthur Attwell, Michelle Matthews, and Tarryn-Anne Anderson established it as a non-profit. Their mission: to create, print, and distribute books in multiple languages, ensuring every child has access to the joy of reading

Nal'iBali

Nal’ibali (isiXhosa for "here’s the story") is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign that fosters a love for reading in children from birth to 12 years. By providing engaging stories in all South African languages, Nal’ibali promotes home-language reading, making literacy more accessible and meaningful. Through its work, the campaign nurtures lifelong reading habits, helping children develop essential literacy skills while encouraging adults to play an active role in their reading journey.

TAQA

Founded by four friends, TAQA is dedicated to expanding access to children’s books in all 11 official South African languages. Through innovative videobooks, which combine text, illustrations, and audio, TAQA creates engaging stories that help children learn to read. Beyond literacy, TAQA aims to foster cultural pride by connecting young African children with their history, heritage, and identity. At its core, TAQA believes in the power of storytelling—to educate, inspire, and liberate.

Funda Wande 

Funda Wande is dedicated to improving foundational literacy and numeracy for young learners in South Africa. They develop and distribute high-quality Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM) while equipping educators with comprehensive training and ongoing support. Through collaboration with government and educational institutions, they scale impactful, research-driven interventions to ensure every child reaches grade-level proficiency. Funda Wande's mission is to drive systemic change by promoting effective teaching practices and empowering teachers to transform learning outcomes.