Early Childhood Development

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Department of Social Development (DSD) gave a joint briefing on Early Childhood Development (ECD). The nation-wide implementation of the Early Childhood Development programme is cross-cutting and affected other departments responsible for registration of births, housing, social grants and basic services. The programme envisages the professionalisation of childcare from infancy to school-going age, with particular focus on children with disabilities. The goal is that by 2030, all children would have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education. Government wants to introduce minimum qualifications for people who care for and educate young children.

Members asked what would be done to ensure that children are required to attend pre-school; ensuring safety of learners; the minimum qualifications of teachers. Most MPs were keen that women currently offering childcare should not find themselves out of employment due to a lack of qualifications and recommended that recognition of prior learning should be used. They asked how many undergoing formal ECD training stayed in the profession, and how retention and recruiting strategies would be used. They asked about how monitoring would be done, the standardisation of bylaws and accommodation requirements for pre-schools.