DBE to have hands full dealing with chaotic Early Childhood Development sector

Is the basic education department (DBE) – the “largest in terms of administration” – beset by its own problems, up to the task to take on the tattered Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector?

Education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe said the basic education department has been at pains to say the shift was a process and not an event.

She explained that this was not an absolute shift of all functions to the DBE but that this was the issue of the DBE being the lead department in a coordinated strategy for ECD-being from 0-09 year-olds-across departments.

“Some functions remain with social development and health is particularly important in the first 1,000 days. But then the question is the inclusion of children in our country into opportunities that will give them socio-emotional and cognitive development. Some of these will be in community-based centres and some of that will be in more formal centres and the DBE has committed to increasing the number of children who access the two years before Grade 1,” she said.

She said her understanding was that the DBE was chosen as the lead department in the process was because of experience in systemic structures in place.

“This is going to be a challenge in terms of developing effective coordination mechanisms across departments…” Metcalfe cautioned.

Hilda Mogashoa, a facilitator for 53 ECD centres in Diepsloot, Gauteng, said their current challenges were fees as most parents were unemployed and relied social services.

“Some (ECD’s) do not comply DSD because there is no running water, electricity and proper structures,” she said.

Department of basic education Elijah Mhlanga is yet to respond to request for comment. siphom@citizen.co.za