Kelly Fisher | Head | Marketing & Communications | Injini | mail me |
Literacy remains a critical area of progress and concern across Africa. The continent has seen significant gains in literacy over the past two decades, yet much still needs to be done.
Current figures show that African adult literacy rates sit at around 67% – an 11% increase compared to the turn of the Millennium. However, those gains are not guaranteed to continue. In South Africa, for example, literacy rates declined by 5% between 2019 and 2021. And even where progress is evident, the picture is incomplete: there is an important distinction between being able to read words and being able to read for meaning.
It is also important to remember the distinction between basic literacy and the ability to read for meaning. On that front, South Africa falls short. The 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), for example, shows that 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning.
Even as South Africa and the broader African continent struggle to address these challenges, they must also adapt to a new reality. In this reality, rethinking digital literacy is just as important as traditional literacy, if not more so.
The evolving meaning of digital literacy
Things are changing so rapidly that redefining literacy for the digital era may be critical. To understand this shift, it is essential to define digital literacy as a distinct evolution of traditional literacy.
Traditional literacy refers to the reading and writing skills we all learned in school. In the digital age, however, a comprehensive definition of literacy must also include critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital navigation skills. Without this expanded definition, efforts to solve literacy crises risk being incomplete.
Consider how easily swayed people are today by pseudo-experts and misinformation on social media. For older people, this often stems from the fact that they had to adopt digital tools long after finishing school, during a time when a digital-first world still felt like science fiction.
For younger people, this shift points to opportunities for curricula and education systems to equip teachers more effectively. Teachers should help build digital literacy alongside traditional literacy. Otherwise, young people may grow up comfortable in digital environments but lack the critical thinking to differentiate between accurate and misleading information. Here, rethinking digital literacy becomes a pressing educational priority.
The role of EdTech
Educational technology (EdTech) products play a vital role in complementing foundational literacy efforts and driving more advanced digital literacy. A strong EdTech product can encourage critical thinking, support problem-solving, democratise access to learning resources and prepare learners for real-world, digital-first environments.
Across the continent, innovators are building products that deliver these skills and are tailored for the African context. Adaptive learning platforms like Mindjoy in South Africa or M-Shule in Kenya, for instance, use AI to pose increasingly complex problems based on learner progress. This approach prompts deeper reasoning instead of rote memorisation.
Mobile-first platforms such as Eneza Education allow learners in low-resource environments to access world-class content using inexpensive mobile devices. Eneza Education even supports feature phones, delivering curriculum-aligned lessons via SMS. Offline-capable solutions, such as Kolibri, also enable rural schools with limited internet access to use interactive, high-quality digital content.
As Africa’s first EdTech accelerator, we believe that solutions like these are critical. They are designed for Africa, by Africans, rather than simply cloning models that worked elsewhere.
Why an expanded definition matters for Africa
An expanded definition of literacy matters for several reasons. Most importantly, it helps Africa better face unique challenges, including high illiteracy rates, the digital divide and widespread inequality.
Such a definition also promotes inclusive development and economic participation. Digital skills are essential for success in today’s workplace. A strong literacy foundation, which incorporates digital elements, is critical for building those skills.
As states move toward digital-first services, these skills will also become necessary for daily life. They will be needed for applying for identity documents and passports, as well as for tasks as simple as grocery shopping. The ripple effects of enhanced literacy skills are enormous. Beyond education, improved literacy means better workforce readiness and civic engagement that addresses real issues rather than manufactured grievances.
Sparking fresh conversations
Ultimately, conversations about literacy should not be confined to statistics alone. They must grapple with what literacy really means in a digital-first world.
International Literacy Day provides a useful reminder of this challenge, but the real test lies in how Africa responds beyond a single day of reflection. At the centre of this response must be the idea of rethinking digital literacy. EdTech should be embraced alongside traditional literacy efforts. Only then can African learners be truly literate – able to think critically, navigate digital environments with confidence, and thrive in an interconnected world.
