Grim stats for literacy rates
‘No surprise’ worst figures from east of Kei
THE Eastern Cape has the highest illiteracy rate in South Africa in the 15 to 34 age group. A Statistics South Africa report released this week found that more than 271 000 youth in the province – or 10.4% – cannot read or write.
According to the report, of the 10 worst districts in the country on illiterate youth, O R Tambo leads with 14% of its youth considered to be illiterate.
Of the 10 districts, five are in the Eastern Cape. The other four are: ● Alfred Nzo (13.2%); ● Chris Hani (12.6%); ● Amathole (11.8%); and ● Joe Gqabi (11.2%). O R Tambo and Chris Hani are also in the 10 worst districts for education attainment among adults of 25 to 64 years.
Close to 56 000 people in this age group who reside in the O R Tambo district have no schooling and 28 000 in Chris Hani.
When it comes to individuals aged 25 and younger without a matric, the Eastern Cape is second worst at 52%.
This, accor2ding to the report, Education Series Volume III: Educational Enrolment and Achievement 2016, means more unemployed youth.
“Upper secondary education completion gives one an opportunity to enter into the labour force or even further one’s studies,” reads the report. “Roughly a third of individuals aged 15 to 25 might miss these opportunities, thus increasing the unemployment in the country and this was evident in individuals located in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and North West.”
On illiteracy stats for adults aged 35 to 64, the Eastern Cape came in fifth at 26%.
Stats SA Director of Social Statistics Isabel Schmidt said historically the Eastern Cape has always had higher illiteracy rate than other provinces. “The leading contributing factors are the socioeconomic conditions,” she said.
Schmidt said the pattern was intergenerational because there was a link between parents’ illiteracy and the prospect of their children progressing academically. “This leads to lack of support for the schoolgoing children if their parents did not go to school because they do not see value in education,” said Schmidt. She said children of schoolgoing age in rural areas had to often look after livestock.
“This leads to many things competing for the child’s attention and some end up choosing to sacrifice education by dropping out.”
Schmidt said it was no surprise that most of the struggling districts were in the former Transkei since this was where the state of education facilities were in the poorest state.
Education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department would thoroughly examine the report to understand its ramifications. “That way we can make sure that our ongoing structural and systemic improvements are tweaked to take into consideration its recommendations,” he added.