Malvern community cautions illegal ECDs
“The forum aims to invite people who want to start their ECDs and what they need to comply and meet the standard of operating an ECD.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) refers to the development of a child on a physical, psychological, mental and social level between the ages of birth and when going to school.
They play a very important part in the development of children and in communities.
The principal of Mighty Kids Centre and chairperson of the Early Childhood Development Forum Orlean Mahlangu expressed concerns about illegal ECDs in the Malvern area.
“There are indeed a couple of illegal ECDs in the area and one of our reasons for starting the forum was to invite and teach people about the forum and create awareness about illegal ECDs. We aim to ensure all ECDs in the area comply with legislation.”
The forum partnered with the Department of Education to emphasise the need to legalise all ECDs.
“The forum invites those wanting to start their own ECD to approach us and learn about what they need to comply with to ensure they meet the standards of operating an ECD. If a person wants to open a daycare centre they can contact us for guidance as we also work with social workers and health inspectors.”
Mahlangu said the community and parents need to be responsible before placing their child with an ECD.
“If they need help we are here as a forum to alert them to what they should look at before taking their children to a daycare centre. Most parents go for a cheaper daycare centre. They don’t look at what is inside the centre such as infrastructure.
“They need to look at the environment where their children will play and learn. The forum’s main goal is to ensure the safety of children.
“We are here to help centres to ensure they are registered and we direct them to the right channels.
“ECDs are the foundation for a child’s growth and education. Parents should stop compromising and do what is right for the children.”
In the streets of Malvern, a single mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the EXPRESS she has no other choice than to take her child to an unregistered centre.
“I work ridiculous hours and I do not earn that much. I took my daughter there because I cannot afford other daycare centers that are registered. They are expensive.
“They look after my daughter and it is affordable too. I just make sure my daughter has an emergency kit in her backpack for them to use if something happens to her,” she said.
The Child Care Act states that no person may provide childcare services except on childcare premises that comply with the requirement that all premises must be located, designed, constructed, finished, equipped and be in such a condition that children can be hygienically and adequately protected against all possible public health hazards and public health nuisances.
Contact the ECD Forum in Malvern on 079 021 1772 or 072 586 7972.
