SA needs a plan on the scale of the ARV rollout to solve the illiteracy crisis
Johannesburg, 15 Aug 2023: Former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has appealed to The insurance industry to back plans to increase literacy in South Africa. Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka was among The high-profile guest speakers at the insurance event of the year; the African Insurance Exchange (AIE) 2023.
The Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) produces the annual showcase to brainstorm ways to move the industry forward. A key theme of the three-day programme in the North West last week was pinning down sector priorities. Mlambo-Ngcuka is the Chairperson of the 2030 Reading Panel. It is comprised researchers and leaders who are determined to ensure that all young children in South Africa will be able to read for meaning in the next seven years. Citing the recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study which revealed the shocking story of South Africa’s dismal literacy rate, Mlambo-Ngcuka says she believes action as comprehensive as the anti-retroviral rollout at the height of HIV/AIDS pandemic is needed, “The problem is so widespread, we cannot do it piecemeal. Every child who cannot read, or write, or count, must be found and assisted.”
The Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS) was instrumental in getting the literacy matter to feature on the AIE 2023 agenda. GIFS CEO Dr Kershen Pillay says illiteracy is a scourge that has far-reaching impact on South Africans, contributing to social ills. The sentiment has been echoed by IISA CEO Ms Thokozile Mahlangu. She says what people may not consider is that if young children cannot read or write for meaning, they eventually enter the world of work and are unable to communicate adequately to customers. The knock-on effect is felt by all South Africans who must deal with poor financial decisions, corruption, and compromised service delivery.
AIE 2023 was also a drawcard for Gift of the Givers Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. The humanitarian delivered a rousing address, encouraging the insurance industry to continue playing an active role in assisting to solve South Africa’s challenges. He feels the country needs teachers who are not only academically-inclined but who have heart, “Many children come from broken homes and they’re dealing with trauma. You cannot address academics, if you have not addressed their trauma.”
The guest speakers, as well as prominent insurance industry participants to AIE 2023, sat down for interview sessions with broadcaster and award-winning author Ms Joanne Joseph.