Acorns to Oaks Secondary School in the Green Valley Circuit, Bohlabela District, hosted a vibrant World Read Aloud Day celebration on Wednesday, 25 February, bringing together learners, educators and partners in a shared commitment to literacy.

The event was organised by the Department of Education in collaboration with Nal’ibali, Room to Read, and the National Education Collaboration Trust, reflecting a united effort to build a nation of readers and strengthen reading culture in schools.

The celebration highlighted reading as the foundation of all learning and one of the most powerful tools for social and economic transformation. Speakers emphasised that promoting a culture of reading not only supports academic success, but also empowers learners to participate meaningfully in society.

Book publishers Shuter & Shooter and Maskew Miller Learning also attended the event, reinforcing the importance of access to quality reading materials in schools.

The keynote address was delivered on behalf of the MEC for Education, Lindi Masina, by the Chief Director for General Education and Training (GET), Elvis Siwela. In his message, he reaffirmed the department’s commitment to literacy development through the strengthening of school libraries, structured reading programmes and the promotion of a reading culture across all districts.

He stressed that reading should not be limited to the Foundation Phase, but must become a sustained practice throughout a learner’s entire educational journey. He further called on educators, parents and learners to take collective responsibility in nurturing a lifelong love for books.

World Read Aloud Day once again served as a powerful reminder that when communities read together, they grow together — turning the simple act of reading aloud into a lasting investment in education and development.