JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's literacy crisis doesn't begin or end in the classroom.
Experts say parents and guardians play a vital role in developing a child's love of reading, even if they don't have books or struggle with literacy themselves.
Nal’ibali’s Etienne Bramley said something as simple as telling stories can help lay the foundation for lifelong learning.
“I think one of the big reasons I think we see parents especially not reading to children is they themselves are not necessarily that literate.
“We have quite a high illiteracy rate among adults as well. But there are a lot of ways you can tell stories to children. Get them interested in stories. Tell them stories from your youth and from when you were young.
“So I think our plea to parents especially is, you know, tell stories to your children. You know, you can do that while you make food, while you give them chores in the home, or you play with them.
“Tell them stories and read stories to them, even if you just get a picture book and make up your own story. You know, I think children need to hear the rich stories as you say that we have on this continent and our rich diversity, which is a beautiful thing of our country that we can share with our children."