Monday marked International Literacy Day, a day to celebrate the power of reading and learning. Yet in South Africa, we are failing to get the basics right. It is regrettable that the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has today revealed that only 26% of public schools nationally have an on-site library.
In a reply to a written question by Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader, the Minister states that just 5863 out of the 22 511 public schools in South Africa have a library. Three out of every four public schools (74%) do not have a library at all.
The distribution of school libraries across provinces reveals a deeply unequal picture:
- Eastern Cape: 364 of 5016 schools (7.3%)
- Free State: 645 of 937 schools (68.8%)
- Gauteng: 1403 of 2061 schools (68.1%)
- KwaZulu-Natal: 1509 of 5790 schools (26.1%)
- Limpopo: 314 of 3622 schools (8.7%)
- Mpumalanga: 341 of 1632 schools (20.9%)
- Northern Cape: 107 of 543 schools (19.7%)
- North West: 364 of 1443 schools (25.2%)
- Western Cape: 816 of 1467 schools (55.6%)
The consequences are visible in the shocking literacy outcomes. The PIRLS Report (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) tells us that 4 out of 5 learners in Grade 4 (aged 9–10) cannot read for meaning. In fact, only 1 in 5 learners at this foundational stage of schooling can make sense of what they are reading.
The data confirms the entrenched inequality in South Africa’s education system, whereby a child’s chance of having access to a library depends almost entirely on where they live. Learners in provinces like Gauteng are far better resourced than their peers in Limpopo or the Eastern Cape.
A library should not be considered a luxury. It is a cornerstone of learning, literacy, and opportunity. Without access to books, learning resources, and safe spaces for reading, millions of learners are being denied the basic tools they need to thrive.
To this end, BOSA will be filing formal comprehensive submissions to the newly established National Education and Training Council (NTEC). These reforms will include:
- Ensuring that every school has a functional library within the next five years.
- Ring-fencing education budgets for library infrastructure and learning materials.
- Requiring the Department to publish annual progress reports on school library provision so that parents and communities can hold government accountable.
- Building partnerships with civil society and the private sector to accelerate delivery, especially in under-resourced provinces.
BOSA’s vision for education reform is bold and transformative. It includes the establishment of an independent education ombudsman, better salaries for educators, the introduction of a school voucher programme, and a nationwide audit of teacher skills.
We are committed to using every available mechanism to advance the cause of education reform. The party will continue to fight for a system that empowers South Africa’s youth, builds a skilled workforce, and secures the country’s future.
Media Enquiries: Roger Solomons – BOSA Spokesperson – 072 299 3551