UDM raises concerns over education crisis: Our children deserve better
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is alarmed by the findings of the latest 2030 Reading Panel report, which confirms the ongoing crisis in South Africa’s education system. This report paints a bleak picture of literacy and mathematics skills among both pupils and educators, further entrenching inequality and threatening the future of our children.
According to the Report, a shocking 80% of Grade 3 pupils still cannot read for meaning in any language, while nearly 70% of Grade 6 pupils fail to reach appropriate reading levels in their language of learning and teaching.
Even more concerning is the widening gap between pupils who speak English and Afrikaans and those who speak African languages - an unacceptable reality in a democratic South Africa.
Equally distressing is the sharp decline in Maths proficiency among teachers. In 2013, only 1.4% of Grade 6 maths teachers had basic maths knowledge; today, that number has jumped to 7.3%. This means too many of our children are being taught by educators who lack essential skills to prepare them for the future. How can we expect our young people to compete in a world driven by science, technology, and innovation when our education system is failing them so badly?
While we note the improvement in teacher reading proficiency, with 94% of Grade 6 teachers now classified as critical readers, this progress has yet to translate into better literacy outcomes for pupils. The UDM acknowledges efforts by some provinces to introduce reading assessments, but we need a national approach that ensures no child, regardless of where they live, is left behind.
The root causes of this crisis are clear:
• The lack of proper teacher training and professional development.
• Overcrowded classrooms that prevent individual attention.
• Budget cuts that leave provinces struggling to provide basic resources.
• Misalignment between universities and the Department of Basic Education, leading to teachers unprepared to teach in African languages.
The Department of Basic Education’s slow response has already robbed too many children of their right to quality education.
The UDM demands urgent and decisive action:
• Immediate intervention in foundation phase education to equip young learners with strong literacy and numeracy skills from the start.
• Better teacher training and recruitment, where universities must produce educators who are truly fit for purpose.
• Investment in African language education, because language should not be a barrier to success.
• Proper budget allocations: Government must better spend funding for quality education.
Our children are the future of this country but without the right education, they have no future at all. The UDM calls on the Government of National Unity to step up its game so that every child in South Africa receives the quality education they deserve.
