Illiteracy on the decline in SA

According to the recent General Household Survey 2011, compiled by Statistics South Africa, the percentage of youths with Grade 12 as their highest level of education increased from 21,5% in 2002 to 27,4% in 2011.

The percentage of individuals with tertiary qualifications rose from 9,2% to 11,5% during the same period. But functional illiteracy declined from 27,9% to 18,1% during this time although nine out of ten South Africans are able to read and write. The survey reflects the failures and successes the country has experienced over the last decade.

No-fee schools have encouraged better attendance, but this only lasts until the end of primary school when large numbers of students start dropping out of schools.

The percentage of learners who paid no tuition fees increased from 0,7% in 2002 to 55,6% in 2011. Provinces with the highest proportion of non-payers were Limpopo at 89,7% and Eastern Cape at 71,8%.

Gauteng learners were least likely to benefit from the "no-fee" system, with only 31,8% of public school learners benefitting. The figure in Western Cape is even lower.

Though almost two-thirds of the 652,869 students enrolled at higher education institutions during 2011 were black, this only represented 3,5% of Africans aged 18 to 29 years who were in active study.

The Social Profile of Vulnerable Groups study by StatsSA - undertaken in the preceding year - found that, "approximately 62,1% of children live in households with a per capita income of less than R570 per month".

According to the study, "by the age of 22, 56.6% of the youth are neither attending any educational institution nor working. The youth is at risk of becoming unemployable and falling into chronic systemic poverty" the study warned.

Sowetan