World Book Day
Thursday, 23 April, is World Book Day.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), first celebrated this day in 1995 to promote
reading and publishing around the world.
The Western Cape’s MEC for Education, Debbie
Schafer, says that the importance of reading at an early age cannot be
overstated. ‘’In fact, without a solid grounding in basic literacy, a child
will struggle with all other areas of learning, from introductory to advanced
subjects.’’
According to World Population Review, South
Africa is ranked 75th in the world, in terms of literacy levels. The
2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that 78% of
our country’s Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning in any language.
With South Africa’s lockdown regulations in
effect, libraries are closed, but there are other ways to get hold of a book,
such as a magazine for example. As much as it is World Book Day, the aim is for
individuals to read, whether it is through the internet, newspaper, recipe or
even the back of a grocery item.
I have to agree with MEC Shafer – ‘’the
greatest gift a parent can give their child is to inspire in them a love of
reading. It is an investment in their education that will make all the
difference to their learning when schools are able to reopen.’’
Done By: Mitchum George
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