The Motor Industry Staff Association, MISA, is calling on parents, communities and workplaces to promote reading for enjoyment and strengthen literacy in South Africa.

The call comes as the 2030 Reading Panel reports that 81 percent of children in Grades One to Four struggle to read with comprehension.

MISA says that lack of literacy, especially in rural and urban schools, can limit educational and employment opportunities and contribute to widespread poverty.

Nal’ibali Management and Evaluation Officer Tshandapiwa Tshuma says literacy development starts at home, encouraging adults to read with children from an early age.

MISA also encourages workplaces to support reading through book packs, reading corners and book sharing initiatives.

The organization says that encouraging reading in the mother tongue and multiple languages ​​can build self-confidence, preserve culture and improve understanding among children.