Child under nutrition is a serious threat to children’s ability to develop and learn. Feedback from ECD practitioners tell us just how important the food provided at ECD centres is for the children who attend especially in poor communities where children may receive little additional food at home. This...
The growth of Grade R is changing the ECD landscape. The R18bn boost promised in the February 2012 budget speech heralds an acceleration of access to Grade R. The enrolment age for Grade R is now 4 years which has in recent times already impacted on the expansion rate,...
The theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women is, “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” For many women and families, there seems to be no difference between peacetime and war time...
Many ECD stakeholders had concerns about the way that ECD was dealt with in the Children’s Act and its regulations, norms and standards. In particular the lack of clarity on ECD programmes other than those offered in ECD centres was a concern. Better linking of ECD and Prevention and...
The need for a system of recognition of ECD practitioners working in both centres and in programmes which work with parents and other primary caregivers has been widely discussed in the ECD sector. ECD practitioners offer an essential social service but continue to be marginalised, poorly paid and lack...
