Early childhood workers’ acknowledged for their hard work
The cream of the crop in Early Childhood Development (ECD) were rewarded during the Provincial South African Early Childhood Development (ECD) awards at the Royal Hotel Polokwane on 22 November.
POLOKWANE – The ceremony were recognition and celebration of the tremendous and amazing work that ECD practioners, ECD centers and organisations put into developing the young minds that will become the country’s future leaders.
It was also aimed at promoting hard work and excellence within the ECD sector.
There were three categories namely, best ECD centre of the year award, which went to Maria Pilusa from Serokonama Early Learning Centre beating 214 other entrants, best ECD practitioner of the year award which was taken home by Kgadi Kate Sekwakwa from Amos Mahloana Creche, beating 279 other entrants for the accolade. They will represent Limpopo in the national competition against other provinces.
MEC for Social Development, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana said during her address that although ECD work is taken lightly, ECD workers are the pillars of society.
“We all need each other to make a positive contribution towards the health and welfare of our citizens from a very early age. The integrated early childhood development approach is the perfect example of cooperative governance. We are positive that the interdependence between the government and civil society is a partnership that will benefit all,” she said.
She further explained that the awards were about recognising the hard work and dedication that ECD workers do.
“These are dedicated women and men who put their efforts towards grooming South Africa’s future. Their crucial and sometimes difficult duties that they fulfill as ECD practitioners and managers cannot be over emphasised.”
She urged that all ECD centers comply in terms of infrastructure, safety, health and nutrition, integrity and education, and urged assistance from other sectors and citizens to be the eyes and ears of the department to ensure this compliance and for parents not to enroll their children to unregistered centres.
With a total of 2 356 forms distributed this year between Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts, the hard work that the practitioners and centres in all districts put in was visible but there could only be one winner. ECD’s looking to enter for next year’s awards can collect entry forms at Department of Social Development district offices, National Development Agency district offices and provincial offices. The national awards ceremony will take place in Polokwane in December.
