He Who Can Read and Write Has Four Eyes: Factors That Contribute to Gaps in the Entire Reading Ecosystem of South Africa’s Disadvantaged Rural Communities: A Literature Review

Maredi Samuel Mojapelo

doi:10.25159/2663-659X/11346

Authors

Maredi Samuel Mojapelo University of South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6374-9153

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/11346

Keywords:

reading , reading ecosystem, reading materials , reading skills , South Africa

Abstract

Equitable and seamless access to information in diverse formats is indispensable for people of all ages to meet their dynamic and ever-evolving information needs for socioeconomic development. Reading is a skill that people need to acquire from an early age to obtain information essential to change their lives for the better. However, in South Africa, the entire reading ecosystem is characterised by huge gaps adversely affecting people of all age groups, particularly in disadvantaged rural communities, and militating against them acquiring reading habits, skills, a reading culture and essential information to meet their multiple daily needs. With low reading literacy in the country, the purpose of this study was to investigate factors that contribute to gaps in the entire reading ecosystem in South Africa’s disadvantaged rural communities. The study adopted a literature review to unearth factors contributing to gaps that deter people from reading and acquiring reading habits, skills and a reading culture. The study finds that there are numerous factors that contribute to gaps in the whole reading ecosystem in the country, thus hindering citizens from accessing information to quench their information needs. The study recommends that the government has a responsibility to bring information to the citizens by establishing adequate and responsive community libraries to encourage citizens to read for socioeconomic development. Robust digital infrastructure particularly in disadvantaged rural communities is essential for rural villagers to access electronic information globally to support and encourage the acquisition of reading skills and habits in all communities.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Alsumait, A., and Z. S. Al-Musawi. 2013. “Creative and Innovative e-Learning Using Interactive Storytelling.” International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications 9 (3): 209–26. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPCC-07-2013-0016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPCC-07-2013-0016

Bloch, G. 2009. The Toxic Mix: What’s Wrong with South Africa’s Schools and How to Fix It. Cape Town: Tafelberg.

Boloka, M. J. 2020. “Sustainability of Book Clubs in a Rural Setting in Limpopo Province: A Case of Re-atlegile Book Club.” Mousaion 38 (3): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/7875. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/7875

Christie, P., and C. Collins. 1982. “Bantu Education: Apartheid Ideology or Labour Reproduction?” Comparative Education 18 (1): 59–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305006820180107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0305006820180107

Creswell, J. W. 2014. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

DAC (Department of Arts and Culture). 2014. The Library and Information Services (LIS) Transformation Charter. 7th ed. Commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture and the National Council for Library and Information Services (NCLIS). Accessed August 28, 2023. http://www.dac.gov.za/sites/default/files/Final%20draft_%20LIS%20Transformation%20Charter.pdf.

DAC (Department of Arts and Culture). 2018. National Policy for Library and Information Services in South Africa. Pretoria: DAC.

DBE (Department of Basic Education). 2023. Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2021: South African Preliminary Highlights Report. Pretoria: DBE. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.jet.org.za/resources/pirls-sa-2021_highlights-report_15-may-2023_final_print.pdf/view.

DoE (Department of Education). 2008. National Reading Strategy. Pretoria: DoE. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/DoE%20Branches/GET/GET%20Schools/National_Reading.pdf?ver=2009-09-09-110716-507.

Dujmović, M. 2006. “Storytelling as a Method of EFL Teaching.” Pregledni rad 1 (1): 75–88. https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/17682.

eNCA. 2013. “Thousands of Unqualified Teachers Are Teaching South African Children.” eNCA, September 5, 2013. https://www.enca.com/south-africa/thousands-unqualified-teachers-sa-schools.

Fontijn, W., and P. Mendels. 2005. “StoryToy the Interactive Storytelling Toy.” Paper presented at PerGames, the Second International Workshop on Gaming Applications in Pervasive Computing Environments, Vienna, April 18–23.

Fourie, I., and A. Meyer. 2016. “Role of Libraries in Developing an Informed and Educated Nation.” Library Hi Tech 34 (3): 422–32. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-01-2016-0009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-01-2016-0009

Hardy, N., and J. Hastings. 2016. “Developing a Culture of Reading among Public Library Staff.” Paper presented at IFLA WLC, Taking Charge of Your LIS Career: Personal Strategies, Institutional Programmes, Strong Libraries, Cape Town, August 12–14, 2015. https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1917/1/S02-2015-hardy-en.pdf.

Hourcade, J. P., B. B. Bederson, A. Druin, and G. Taxén. 2002. “KidPad: Collaborative Storytelling for Children.” In CHI EA’02: CHI’02 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 500–1. New York, NY: ACM Press. https://doi.org/10.1145/506443.506449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/506443.506449

Howie, S. J., E. Venter, and S. Van Staden. 2008. “The Effect of Multilingual Policies on Performance and Progression in Reading Literacy in South African Primary Schools.” In “Reading Achievement: International Perspectives from IEA’s Progress in International Reading Literacy Studies (PIRLS),” edited by S. J. Howie and T. Plomp, special issue, Education Research and Evaluation 14 (6): 551–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803610802576775. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13803610802576775

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). 2002. The The IFLA/UNESCO School Library Guidelines. IFLA Professional Reports, Nr. 77. The Hague: IFLA. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://repository.ifla.org/bitstream/123456789/510/1/77.pdf.

Kalley, J. A. 2000. Apartheid in South African Libraries: The Transvaal Experience. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Koza, N. 2018. “A Staggering 73% of Over 16’s Not Interested in Reading—SA Book Council.” 702, June 1, 2018. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.702.co.za/articles/305947/a-staggering-73-of-over-16-s-not-interested-in-reading-sa-book-council.

Laishley, K., and S. Zinn. 2015. “City of Cape Town Libraries’ Segregated History: 1952– 1972.” Innovation 50: 3–19.

Le Roux, E. 2017. “Concepts of Reading in South African Reading Promotion Campaigns.” Mousaion 35 (3): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/2987. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/2987

Mojapelo, S. M. 2014. “Provision of School Libraries in Public High Schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa.” PhD diss., University of South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/19845. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7553/80-2-1401

Mojapelo, S. M. 2020. “Storytelling Initiatives and Reading in Schools in South Africa: A Case from Limpopo Province.” Mousaion 38 (3): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/7873. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/7873

Mojapelo, S. M., and M. Shekgola. 2018. “Annual Storytelling Festival in Northwest and Limpopo Provinces: Unisa Celebrates World Literacy Month.” Liasa-in-Touch 19 (4): 22.

Naidoo, U., K. Reddy, and N. Dorasamy. 2014. “Reading Literacy in Primary Schools in South Africa: Educator Perspectives on Factors Affecting Reading Literacy and Strategies for Improvement.” International Journal of Education and Science 7 (1): 155–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/09751122.2014.11890179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09751122.2014.11890179

Nal’ibali Trust. 2023. National Reading Barometer Project South Africa: Summary Report 2023. Pretoria: Nal’ibali Trust. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.readingbarometersa.org/content/national-reading-barometer-project-2023-summary-report.

National Reading Coalition. 2019. A Plan to Get the Nation Reading: Joint Efforts of Government and Civil Society to Improve Reading. Pretoria: Unpublished draft.

Newman, L. 2018. “Poor Literacy Levels Still a Concern in South Africa.” Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/poor-literacy-levels-still-a-concern-in-sa-14601496.

Pretorius, E. J., and N. M. Klapwijk. 2016. “Reading Comprehension in South African Schools: Are Teachers Getting It, and Getting It Right?” Per Linguam 32 (1): 1–20. https://dx.doi.org/10.5785/32-1-627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5785/32-1-627

Quinn, A. J., B. B. Bederson, E. M. Bonsignore, and A. Druin. 2009. “StoryKit: Designing a Mobile Application for Story Creation by Children and Older Adults.” University of Maryland. Accessed August 7, 2020. http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/trs/2009-22/2009-22.pdf.

Rajchert, J. M., T. Zultak, and M. Smulczyk. 2014. “Predicting Reading Literacy and Its Improvement in the Polish National Extension of the PISA Study: The Role of Intelligence, Trait- and State-Anxiety, Socio-Economic Status and School-Type.” Learning and Individual Differences 33: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2014.04.003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2014.04.003

Snyman, M. E. 2016. “A Longitudinal Study of a Reading Project in the Northern Cape, South Africa.” Reading and Writing 7 (1): a85. https://doi.org/10.4102/rw.v7i1.85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/rw.v7i1.85

Spaull, N. 2013. South Africa’s Education Crisis: The Quality of Education in South Africa 1994–2011. Johannesburg: Centre for Development and Enterprise. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://section27.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Spaull-2013-CDE-report-South-Africas-Education-Crisis.pdf.

Spaull, N. 2015. “Schooling in South Africa: How Low-Quality Education Becomes a Poverty Trap.” In South African Child Gauge 2015, edited by A. De Lannoy, S. Swartz, L. Lake and C. Smith, 34–42. Cape Town: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town. Accessed August 6, 2020. https://ci.org.za/depts/ci/pubs/pdf/general/gauge2015/ChildGauge2015-lowres.pdf.

Strand, K. J., and J. Britz. 2018. “The Evolving Role of Public Libraries in South Africa in Addressing Information Poverty: A Historical Context.” Library Management 39: (6–7): 364–74. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-08-2017-0072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-08-2017-0072

Stats SA (Statistics South Africa). 2021. “Youth Still Find It Difficult to Secure Jobs in South Africa.” Stats SA, June 4, 2021. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=14415#:~:text=This%20rate%20was%2046%2C3,participate%20in%20the%20labour%20market.

Van Staden, S., and R. Bosker. 2014. “Factors That Affect South African Reading Literacy Achievement: Evidence from PrePIRLS 2011.” South African Journal of Education 34 (3): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.15700/201409161059. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15700/201409161059

Willenberg, I. 2018. “South Africa’s Reading Crisis: Focus on the Root Cause, Not the Peripherals.” The Conversation, May 17, 2018. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://theconversation.com/south-africas-reading-crisis-focus-on-the-root-cause-not-the-peripherals-96129.

Witbooi, S. L. 2007. “Current Developments in Public Libraries in South Africa.” In Libraries for the Future: Progress and Development of South African Libraries, edited by T. J. D. Bothma and P. Ngulube, 61–70. Pretoria: Liasa.