South Africa's Top Teacher Says: Read Every Day to Beat Illiteracy

South Africa has a big reading problem. Studies show that most Grade 4 learners cannot read and understand simple text. This means many young people leave school without the basic skills they need to find work, study further, or grow in a career. If children cannot read well, they cannot learn other subjects like maths, science, or business studies. This makes it harder for them to get jobs later in life.

Why This Affects Jobs and Careers

Reading is the base of almost every job. Whether you work as a cashier, a builder, a nurse, or a computer programmer, you need to read instructions, emails, safety rules, and forms. When learners fall behind in reading, they struggle to pass matric, get into college or university, or do well in learnerships and internships. Employers also say many young people who apply for jobs cannot read or write well enough to do the work.

• Better reading = better results at school. Good readers pass more subjects and open more doors.
• More skills = more jobs. Skilled workers are needed in every sector, from farming to finance.
• Teachers matter. Good teaching, like Mosala's daily reading method, can change a child's whole future.

The government is now putting more focus on early reading and numeracy. It plans to train 10,000 foundation phase teachers in the 2026/2027 year. This means more jobs and training openings for teachers, teaching assistants, and reading coaches. It also means parents, tutors, and community workers can play a bigger role in helping children read.

What Job Seekers Should Know

If you want to work in education, this is a good time to build skills in literacy teaching, phonics, and classroom reading support. But reading skills matter in every job. If you are looking for work, practice reading out loud, read job adverts carefully, and learn new words every day. Strong reading and writing skills help you write a better CV, do well in interviews, and grow in any career you choose.