January February PORTFOLIO 2026
Supplementary Examination
Due Date: 22 January 2026
QUESTION 1
3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS PROVIDED
The article titled Lack of books in SA’s homes throws spotlight on Pirls shock addresses a
critical educational and social challenge in South Africa, namely the severe lack of reading
material in homes with young children and its connection to poor literacy outcomes.
Published in BusinessLive and written by Tamar Kahn, a Health and Science
Correspondent, the text draws on recent research by Unicef and the Department of Basic
Education to highlight how early exposure to books and storytelling is closely linked to
children’s ability to read for meaning. The article appears shortly after the release of the
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study results, which revealed that a large majority
of Grade 4 learners in South Africa struggle with basic reading comprehension. Through
careful use of genre, tone, audience awareness and register, the writer establishes a clear
purpose, which is to inform the public, raise concern, and encourage greater responsibility
from caregivers, government and educational stakeholders regarding early literacy
development.
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