A READING initiative by president Cyril Ramaphosa will give book lovers a chance to get lost in the world of books.
What’s more, the readers can share their views on the book with the President through the chat service available on the virtual book club website.
The President’s Reading Circle answers the call by President Ramaphosa for South Africans to experience and indulge in the joy of reading.
“President’s Reading Circle is a home for passionate, veteran readers and those who are in the first thralls of their exploration with words and ideas. This is where we share current and past reads; where we compliment and critique writers and their readers, and where we engage with seriousness and fun for the sake of building a community around reading and all it inspires,” said the National Reading Coalition (NRC).
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In his State of the Nation Address in June, President Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of cultivating a reading nation to unlock opportunities that flow from a broadened understanding of the country and the world.
According to the NRC, in 2016, South Africa was ranked last out of 50 countries in the Progress in International Reading Literacy (PIRLS) study which tested reading comprehension of Grade 4 learners. The study found that 78 per cent of South African learners at this level could not read for meaning. Additionally, in South Africa, 5 000 book sales make a bestseller cementing the poor levels of reading.
”We are witnessing the emergence of a new generation of writers who are narrating the story of a 21st century South Africa through diverse storylines that reflect a rapidly transforming society. Through increased access to education, new generations of readers are emerging as well, presenting new audiences and markets but, more importantly, broadened insights and the openness and tolerance that flows from turning page after page,” NRC added.
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