Joburg City launches an early childhood development blitz
JOHANNESBURG – The City of Johannesburg has launched an early childhood development (EDC) blitz to check if facilities are adhering to City standards.
The City of Johannesburg has launched an early childhood development (EDC) blitz to ensure the nursery schools operate legally.
The launch of the blitz comes after two children tragically died from rat poisoning in a Westdene Preschool. The MMC for Health and Social Development Mpho Phalatse said the aim is to enforce that all nursery schools across the city comply with the City’s standard.
“We will be making an unannounced visit to five ECD facilities, checking if they are compliant or not,” said Phalatse.
“We will, of course, look at the safety of children as a consideration. We will look at health and hygiene standards. Where there’s absolutely no safety for the children we will, unfortunately, have to close down those facilities. We will have to work with them towards compliance and doing it the right way. They will open at such time that they ready to serve our children.”
Today the MMC of @cojhealth cllr @mphophalatse1 is joined by officials of the City from her department, the @CoJDevPlanning, @JoburgMPD and local councillors for the launch of the Early Childhood Development Blitz. #EarlyChildhoodBlitz ^LM pic.twitter.com/LKNfyHaV1T
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 26, 2019
However, the MMC said that early childhood preschools that are functioning properly will not be closed down, but assisted to get the right documents.
“Where we have a facility is not 100 per cent compliance but children are safe and they adhere to health and hygiene standards, at that facility we can work with them and help them towards compliance.”
We will not shut down Early Childhood preschools that are functioning properly that don't have permits. The City will assist in getting them permits – @mphophalatse1#EarlyChildhoodBlitz ^LM pic.twitter.com/C8Iztp3cYG
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 26, 2019
The MMC will be visiting all early childhood preschools across the city to check if they adhere to the standard of the City.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/207022/early-childhood-education-compulsory/
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/197816/heart-of-a-child/
