Challenges in ECD brought to light at summit
Much still needs to be done and there are still a host of challenges facing the development of early childhood development (ECD) centres in Limpopo.
POLOKWANE – This came to light during a summit hosted by the Department of Social Development, under leadership of acting MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who met with stakeholders on Tuesday to discuss the way forward and come up with an action plan to implement the National Integrated ECD Policy.
The Head of the Department (HOD) Daphney Ramakgopa, said Limpopo is, after Mpumalanga, the second province to hold a planning summit to map out the way forward and come up with a plan for ECD. In August last year a capacity building meeting was held as preparation to this important meeting. Ramakgopa said the ECD is an apex priority of the government and clearly outlined under the National Development Plan: Vision 2030.
Stakeholders, including the Departments of Education, Health, Sport, Arts and Culture, Agriculture, Correctional Services, Roads and Transport, Home Affairs, CoGHSTA, the Office of the Premier, and other organisations and bodies are involved in the planning for ECD.
- In Limpopo only 117 ECD centres are registered fully, while 3 260 centres are conditionally registered and around 400 unregistered centres in operation.
- Of the province’s 808 942 children (StatsSA statistics of 2014), only 23% have access to ECD centres.
- Of the 3 377 centres 71% still have no electricity. Roughly 12% of the centres have flush toilets, while 51% still use pit toilets and 37% use potties.
- Hygiene is a problem with 22% of the centres having water in the building and access to public or communal taps, 36% have tap water on site and others have access to rainwater tanks and other means of supply.
- The qualifications of staff employed at the centres range from below Gr 12 (43%), matric (45%) and 2% with diplomas.
Mud structures comprise the buildings which house 90 of the centres, 125 of the centres are attached to primary schools, 71 are housed in RDP houses, 224 in churches and the other centres are accommodated in wood and iron structures, modified containers, garages, and community halls.
The unavailability of proper cooking areas, offices, storerooms, sick bays, insufficient learning material, and poor ablution facilities are challenges faced by centres. Only 1 844 of the registered centres are funded, with around half of the children receiving subsidies. Facilities for disabled children are a challenge, as are safety practises and emergency training and many centres use curricula not registered with the Department of Basic Education.
The outcomes of the planning sessions will only be available later as the summit was not yet concluded by the time of going to print.
