Right to Read campaign logo
Decorative background image

Every child has the right to read. We are working to make this a national priority.


See our latest updates

South Africa is facing a literacy crisis

81% of South African learners cannot read for meaning in any language. This is a systemic failure which violates the right to basic education for the majority of our learners and deprives them of an integral tool to unlock a lifetime of opportunities and address inequality.


See why
Reading cards on classroom wall
Boy reading book

Our campaign

The Right to Read campaign, led by the South African Human Rights Commission, aims to make early-grade literacy a national priority through legislative reform and the development of binding regulations for the first three grades.

These regulations should clarify the state's obligations in terms of teaching time, teacher training, quality learner and teacher support materials, and regular literacy testing to ensure that learners can read for meaning by age 10.


Get involved

Sign up for our newsletter

Receive the latest campaign updates, press releases, and resources, to keep your finger on the pulse of the campaign. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Sign up now

Become a campaign supporter

Officially declare your organisation's support for the campaign, add your logo to the list of supporters, and share the campaign's message via your organisation's platform.

Contact us

Share our resources

Let other people and organisations in your network know about the campaign and encourage them to help advocate for the right to read regulations.

See resources
Young boy reading book in class Alphabet posters on classroom wall Teacher holding word card Young learner with two thumbs up
Right to Read campaign logo Copyright © Right to Read Campaign
Privacy policy

Our campaign

The Right to Read Campaign aims to mobilize civil society and the education sector, as well as society at large, to make early grade literacy a national priority reflected through legislative reform. One of the ways we have identified to do this is to advocate for the development of binding regulations for reading in the first three grades of school.

Subscribe to our newsletter