Automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer Ford South Africa reaffirms its commitment to tackling the literacy crisis in the country through its enduring legacy projects.

Despite significant investments in education, South Africa continues to grapple with high illiteracy rates, particularly among young learners.

According to the 2024 Reading Panel report, an “alarming” 81 % of Grade 4 learners in the country cannot read for meaning in any language, highlighting a crisis that threatens the nation’s future.

The ‘Economic and Social Cost of Illiteracy’ report compiled by the World Literacy Foundation, notes that this illiteracy cost South Africa $6.66-billion in 2022, reflecting the severe economic and social impact of inadequate literacy development.

Despite a budget of over R324.5-billion – over $17-billion – allocated to basic education for the 2024/25 financial year, challenges persist.

South Africa ranked last out of 57 countries in the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), with illiteracy among South African children rising from 78% in 2016 to 81% in 2021.

In its attempts to address these challenges head-on, Ford South Africa supports two key legacy projects, the Rally to Read initiative and the construction of early childhood development (ECD) centres, both designed to have long-lasting impacts on the communities they serve.

For 25 years, Ford South Africa has partnered with non-governmental organisation READ Educational Trust through the Rally to Read initiative, contributing to improved literacy and education in underserved communities.

Rally to Read is a three-year cycle project that equips selected schools with age-appropriate books, educational toys and learning materials. The initiative also provides teachers with vital training and skills development, ensuring the sustainability of literacy improvements.

“Education, for us, is not merely an expenditure, it is a meaningful and long-lasting investment in the future of South Africa and our people,” explains Ford Motor Company South Africa president Neale Hill.

Ford is currently supporting two Rally to Read programmes, each with a yearly grant of R1.36-million.

The first is in Nelson Mandela Bay which is home to Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant, and the other is in Pretoria, which is where its head office and Silverton Manufacturing Plant are located.

Further, in celebration of its centenary in South Africa, Ford, in partnership with nonprofit organisation Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education, is constructing 100 ECD centres in disadvantaged communities.

These centres provide essential educational infrastructure, replacing inadequate and unsafe structures with sturdy, fully-equipped buildings that create a conducive learning environment for young children.

To date, 27 ECD centres have been completed, benefitting over 1 000 children in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

These legacy projects, Rally to Read and the construction of ECD centres, are designed to leave an enduring impact, fostering the growth of future generations and contributing to the social and economic upliftment of the nation.