Minister Siviwe Gwarube addresses Umlambo Foundation’s Reading Panel Conference, 24 Feb

The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, will tomorrow, Tuesday 24 February deliver a keynote address at the UMlambo Foundation Reading Panel Conference at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. 

The conference, convened by the UMlambo Foundation in partnership with the Reading Panel under the leadership of former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, brings together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia and the private sector to advance collective national efforts to improve early grade reading outcomes in South Africa. 

The address by Minister Gwarube is set to highlight the critical importance of foundational literacy as the basis for all subsequent learning and educational progression. The Minister will outline the Department of Basic Education’s targeted reforms to strengthen foundational learning, including expanded investment in Early Childhood Development (ECD), the scaling of system-wide literacy interventions, sustained teacher development and curriculum support, and the phased implementation of structured reading approaches across schools. 

The engagement forms part of the Department’s broader commitment to improving reading proficiency in the Foundation Phase and ensuring that every child learns to read for meaning in the early years of schooling. 

Members of the media are invited to attend and will be afforded interviews as follows: 
Event: Reading Panel 2026 Conference 
Date: Tomorrow, Tuesday, 24 February 2026 
Time: 09:00 
Venue: Melrose Arch, 39 Melrose Boulevard, Johannesburg

Enquiries:
Acting Director – Communication and Research
Terence Khala 
Cell: 081 758 1546 

Media Liaison Officer
Lukhanyo Vangqa 
Cell: 066 302 1533 

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