Question NW3700 to the Minister of Basic Education
21 November 2023 - NW3700
Mbinqo-Gigaba, Ms BP to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(a) How did her department solicit inputs from the ordinary members of the public regarding the Early Childhood Development delivery model and (b) on what date does her department envisage the implementation of the model?
Reply:
1. The Department has done quite substantive consultations on the new Service Delivery Model both through internal and external structures. The Inter-Sectoral Forum, which is co-chaired by the Department as well as by civil society is the formal structure through which the Department engages with civil society on matters related to ECD. The Inter-Sectoral Forum is also replicated at a provincial level, which allows provinces to further engage with stakeholders at a local level. The ECD Service Delivery Model was thoroughly engaged through these structures. Similarly, the Service Delivery model was also consulted through the National Inter-Departmental Committee. The Department has now developed its 2030 Strategy, and various communication activities are being planned to enable rigorous engagement in the Strategy. This will entail holding an online dialogue in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust, as well as partnering with the National ECD Alliance, SA Congress and Resource and Training Organisations to support an initiative called “The Big Conversation”. This will entail all our implementing partners having conversations on the ECD strategy with ECD practitioners and ECD programmes to solicit their input on the Strategy.