Only 40% of the curriculum had been covered, meaning schools would not complete it before the end of the year, she told parents in Tembisa.

Motshekga, President Jacob Zuma, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi were visiting one of the oldest schools in the country, Marhulana Primary School in Tembisa, Kempton Park, as part of Mandela Month.

They inspected conditions at the school and spoke to pupils.

Motshekga said she was worried by this trend. The problem of not finishing the curriculum affected primary school pupils when they got to high school.

"That's why our children don't cope in high school and drop out. This is a major problem because they have to be put in microwaves and we have to hold Saturday classes to help the learners catch up with what they have missed," she said.

By "microwaving", she meant that pupils had to be quickly taught the previous grades’ work before they could get on with the current year’s work.

Motshekga said most South Africans did not read.

"Our people are not reading. We have have a report that says 85% of our people don't read. People are watching soapies with their children and no one reads. Parents, please let's make sure that our children read," she said.

- News24.com