Question NW401 to the Minister of Basic Education
07 August 2019 - NW401
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With regard to the implementation of the compulsory two-years of Early Childhood Development for all children before Grade 1, what (a) are the exact steps of implementation, (b) are the dates for finalisation of each step, (c) is the expected date of implementation and (d) is the estimated budget implication for this project?
Reply:
a) During the Basic Education Budget Vote 14 debate for the 2019/2020 financial year, it was indicated that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has committed to developing a comprehensive plan to ensure a phased-in and systematic relocation of the responsibility and leadership for ECD. It was further indicated that this comprehensive plan will include the provision of two years of compulsory ECD prior to Grade 1; as well as the provision of Early Childhood Development (ECD) for 0-4-year-olds. Finally, the Department committed to the costed plan being finalised by March 2020.
The development of these plans is based on two principles:
- The plans should ensure that both the access and quality of ECD should improve significantly over the next 10 years; and
- The plans should be sensitive to the current model of ECD provision and not destabilise nor cause confusion in either the ECD or schooling sector.
b) The detailed plan for institutionalising the abovementioned high-level objectives is still being developed.
c) The DBE is working towards finalising a detailed, costed plan by March 2020, while at the same time beginning preparations for implementation.
d) The cost will be clarified through the detailed, costed plan.