Inadequate funding of the early childhood development (ECD) sector and the professionalisation of practitioners were high on the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education’s agenda in a meeting with stakeholders who provide support to this sector.
The committee yesterday received a comprehensive briefing on ECD from government departments and civil society. The ECD function was migrated from the Department of Social Development (DSD) to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in April 2022. Committee Chairperson Ms Joy Maimela said: “The committee engaged in respect of the funding shift, curriculum, teacher/care giver development, resource allocation and registration.
“We engaged with government departments as well as civil society. The function seems to have shifted, but funding and infrastructure did not accompany it. The ECD sector needs to be better resourced if we want to achieve the ‘thrive by five’ rule,” emphasised Ms Maimela.
The DBE told the committee that its 2024 priorities include a mass registration drive of ECD centres, the amendment of the Children’s Amendment Bill, the development of the Outcomes Framework and increased funding to the sector.
The committee heard that government wants every young child in South Africa to have access to a quality ECD programme, which provides three things – quality learning and development opportunities; a safe and nurturing environment; and good nutrition. The mass registration is the first step in making this possible. Therefore, over the next year, government wants to work closely with provinces to support many more ECD programmes to register as quickly as possible.
Regarding funding for ECD, the committee was informed that the current subsidy is R17 per child per day, which has led to the subsidy’s inability to enable access, weakening and compromising quality of services. This undermines the purpose of the subsidy, which is to ensure that cost is not a barrier to access for the poorest children.
The committee heard 35% or 1 504 584 of poor children between 0 and 5.5 years old are accessing early learning programmes and only 16% of them are subsidised. The DBE’s target for 2030 for access by poor children is 53% or 2 301 261, with all of them receiving the subsidy.
The DSD told the committee that it provides child protection services at ECD centres; provides psycho-support services, including children identified in need of care and protection; and builds capacity of parents and caregivers to care and protect their children.
The DSD also committed to support the implementation of the National Integrated Early Childhood Development strategy within the mandate of DSD, including to build a caring society that cares and protects children and to create a conducive environment through building parents’ and caregivers’ parenting skills. Furthermore, it is committed to creating safety nets for children in communities through provision of the Community Based Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (RISIHA).
The Department of Health told the committee that it works closely with the DBE around a number of ECD initiatives and would like to strengthen and build on this relationship in order to provide more comprehensive services for mothers and children. It has also made significant progress in improving coverage of a package of essential maternal, newborn and child health services provided at facility and community levels.
Committee Member Ms Delmaine Christians wanted details on how the DBE is communicating about its work in the sector, as she said many people are still not aware of the shift of functions and the services available to them. Another Committee Member, Ms Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, requested answers regarding how the DBE proposes to enrol 20 000 ECD centres and at what cost. She also wanted to know what funding model will be use as to where provinces should get additional funding from for this.
Civil society also highlighted funding issues and nutrition, which they said go together for the complete development of child. They further stated that fewer than 50% of practitioners are qualified, and there are limited training and skills development opportunities.
Ms Maimela said it is clear that progress has been made subsequent to the migration, however much work remains to be done. She further condemned statements made to the effect that nothing has been done in the ECD sector over the last 30 year, as vulnerable poor children are definitely better off now than they were, she said.
Rajaa Azzakani
28 August 2024
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