Why we all need to support the 2030 Reading Panel

By Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Chairperson of The Reading Panel

While we gather to brainstorm the trajectory for the insurance and financial services industries at African Insurance Exchange 2023, we need to be mindful that without sustainability, our best efforts won’t yield our desired results. Sustainability in 2023 means considering the impact of poor literacy habits on young people. And a South African who needs no introduction for her commitment to improving the lives of young people has taken up the cause. Most importantly for us at AIE 2023, she’s gracing us with her wisdom at the forum.

Former Deputy President and current Chairperson of the 2030 Reading Panel Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has brought together respected South African leaders to ponder the literacy challenge. After the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study revealed that 78% of children do not learn to read for meaning in any language by the age of 10 in South Africa, Dr MlamboNgcuka is on a mission to answer this question: “What needs to change for us to ensure that all children learn to read by 2030?”

The panel comprises 18 prominent leaders who’ll meet annually until 2030 to provide apolitical leadership to efforts to improve reading culture. Each year, progress against the 2030 goal will be reviewed with recommendations made to government. And while government has given its commitment to the cause, it’s unclear how South Africa will get there. That’s where organisations like the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS) come in.

GIFS, as a financial services thought leader, has already led a discussion on the impact of poor literacy on Corporate South Africa. The effect of that online conversation earlier this year has seen financial services companies implementing projects to improve literacy in-house, in surrounding communities and in employees’ personal spaces. Book club initiatives are starting, book collection drives are happening and more introspection is being done on the role that adults play in influencing their children’s attitudes towards

• A simple and efficient CPD attainment process

• Engaging, relevant and practical content via an optimised e-learning environment

• The opportunity to study at your own pace, whenever, wherever

• Immediate certification as well as instant access to CPD records and reports

• Training programmes at no cost