Technology Blamed for Poor Literacy in SA

Poor schooling, television, video games and the use of "SMS language" have all played a part in producing the poor state of literacy displayed by South Africa's university entrants. This is according to the University of the North West Chancellor and chairperson of the Higher Education South Africa, Theunis Elloff.

Eloff, who presented a report on the issue to the parliamentary portfolio committee, says the literacy standards of more than half of university entrants are too low for them to succeed without help.

He says in terms of general literacy, 48.4 percent of about 12 000 students who were tested in February this year were proficient, so they will not need any help.

"Then 45.6 percent were intermediate. They would cope with help. Then 7 percent on general literacy were very bad and probably would not cope. Literacy is a 50-50 situation," explains Eloff.

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