By Dr Darius Sangari PhD, Director of Sangari Education
The learning poverty rate (LPR) is a key indicator of a country’s long-term investment in education. It measures the percentage of children at age 10 who cannot read and understand a simple text. Reading is a foundational skill: learners first learn to read, and later read to learn. Without this ability, progress across all subjects becomes increasingly difficult.
As of 2024, South Africa’s learning poverty rate stands at 81%, an increase of 3% since the previous assessment in 2022. This trend is concerning, as poor reading ability at a young age has a cascading effect on later academic performance, particularly in STEM subjects, and contributes to lower learner retention throughout the schooling system. Despite these challenges, there have been recent efforts to change the trajectory of South Africa’s education outcomes.
Addressing Reading Challenges Through Technology
The Department of Basic Education has introduced programmes focused on early childhood development, with the aim of improving literacy outcomes as learners progress into primary and secondary school. While the long-term impact of these initiatives will only be fully measurable over the next decade, there is currently limited intervention aimed at improving reading ability among learners in higher grades.
One practical and scalable solution is Xeropan, an AI-powered language learning application that accurately assesses a learner’s current reading level and guides improvement through personalised, self-paced pathways. By adapting content to each learner’s ability, Xeropan helps close foundational literacy gaps that often go undetected in traditional classroom settings.
Xeropan is particularly well suited to the South African context: approximately 95% of children over the age of 10 have access to a smartphone and internet connectivity, and South Africans record some of the highest average screen times globally. This positions Xeropan as a highly accessible intervention that transforms existing screen time into structured, measurable learning extending literacy support beyond the classroom and reducing reliance on already stretched teaching capacity.
Strengthening STEM Education Through Immersive Learning
Performance in mathematics and science has remained largely stagnant in recent years. Contributing factors include limited learner attention, under-resourced classrooms, negative attitudes toward STEM subjects, and gaps in teacher capacity. Advances in educational technology now make it possible to address many of these challenges.
Virtual reality (VR) enables learners to engage with complex concepts through immersive, interactive simulations that reflect real-world applications. In VR environments, learners are actively involved, reducing distractions and increasing focus. Umety VR offers more than 540 science and mathematics simulations, allowing students to explore a wide range of topics experientially. Research consistently shows that VR-based learning leads to higher information retention compared to traditional lectures, reading, or standard audiovisual methods. Technologies such as Umety therefore enable learners to grasp difficult concepts more quickly and effectively.
Reducing Dropout Rates Through Quality Education
Improving literacy and STEM outcomes has a direct impact on learner retention. South Africa’s dropout rate from Grade 1 to Grade 12 is estimated at approximately 40% as of the end of 2025. Of the roughly 1.2 million learners who entered Grade 1 in 2013, only about 720,000 reached matric, leaving nearly 480,000 without meaningful qualifications.
While dropout rates are influenced by multiple social and economic factors, improving the quality of education remains a critical lever for change. Strengthening reading ability and deepening understanding of STEM subjects makes learning more accessible and less intimidating, helping learners stay engaged and confident. Technology-enabled interventions like Xeropan and Umety provide scalable, personalised support that complements classroom teaching, helping learners progress at their own pace and experience topics more vividly. By focusing on high-quality, evidence-based educational tools, South Africa can reduce dropout rates and equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in school and beyond.
