In preparation for the media release of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016 results, the Centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria hosted the final National Steering Committee meeting for the year at the Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel in Rietvalleirand, Pretoria, on 18 October 2017. The aim of the meeting was to review South Africa's Grade 4 and Grade 5 reading literacy achievement results. The meeting was opened by the PIRLS National Research coordinator in South Africa, Professor Sarah Howie, who welcomed everyone and presented the outline of the report.

The review session comprised experts from universities, non-governmental organisations, foundations, parastatals and government departments in the fields of education, language, literacy and primary education. In groups led by different stakeholders, the committee members discussed specific aspects of the report, mainly those related to achievement, classroom environment, home environment and school environment.

The review follows internal writing and rewriting of the PIRLS report chapters by the CEA team during August and early October. The International Association for the Evaluation of Education Achievement (IEA) will release the international results on 5 December 2017. The CEA will share South Africa's Grade 4 and Grade 5 reading literacy achievement results with the country on the same day at the media release, which will be attended by members of the media and different stakeholders, including the Minister of Basic Education.