South32 South African Energy Coal (SAEC) has released a media statement of the launch of the Early Childhood Development programme in eMalahleni.
The programme has progressed very well since inception in March, said SAEC communication, media and events manager Hulisani Rasivhaga.
According to the statement, the aim of the program is to equip participants with management skills such as knowledge of how to professionally manage staff, learners, parents, programs and safety in the early childhood development phase, in an African context.
“The programme is a key intervention to help address some of the foundation education problems faced by many of the less privileged communities. It consists of 82 representatives from the Phola, Ogies, Witbank, Rietspruit and Middelburg communities of Nkangala District Municipality, of which 14 are managers and 68 are teachers.”
On the statement, SAEC President Mr Kgabi Masia said:
“SAEC is investing in initiatives that will help provide quality education for our host communities. This is our contribution towards ensuring that access to education is available from as early as childhood, leaving a lasting positive legacy in the lives of our children.”
He added:
“The demand for teachers with a qualification in ECD has become important in education as well as to up skill our communities. The benefits of having qualified teachers mean that children are able to develop their mental capacity at an early age and have a better chance of success once they start school.”
SAEC partnered with the University of South Africa (UNISA) in this project because
“they are fully accredited and aligned with the National Curriculum statement, and offer a fully dedicated ECD learning centre that provides world-class education in this field,” as stated on the statement.
At the end of the programme, the participants will receive certificates and qualify to register with the South African Council of Educators (SACE) to further their studies to become foundation phase educators in primary schools.
The programme is due to end in September.