The Higher Education and Training Department says adult illiteracy remains a major challenge in South Africa (SA).

It says poverty and inequality are driving it.

The department’s David Diale says they are expanding their literacy programmes to include digital and financial skills.

The rollout will begin in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the North West.

“One of the issues that we’re trying to ensure is that we’re not talking narrowly of the

Diale says they have partnerships with traditional leaders and the private sector. ability to read and write, but broadly of the ability to function in society, utilising, of course, your literacy skills. That’s why this emphasis is on going beyond just the ability to write but also additional skills that will enable you then to, I think, function much more effectively in a democratic society.”

–SABC–