In February then president Thabo Mbeki, in his State of the Nation address, listed Apex Priorities for inclusion in the government’s Programme of Action. Apex Project 11 demands the implementation of early childhood education programmes be speeded up, the number of trained staff increased and the number of sites and children beneÂfiting doubled by the end of 2009.
This policy is consistent with social transformation resolution number 29 taken at the ANC’s Polokwane conference in 2007, which called for a comprehensive strategy on early childhood development. These moves reflect a commitment to the needs of young children from the highest levels of leadership. It is an excellent start, but implementation is what matters.
Education White Paper five on early childhood education, published in May 2001, states: “Our policy target is that by 2010 all learners who enter grade one should have participated in an accredited reception year programme.”
The intention is to increase the number of children in early childhood programmes, deal with inequality in existing programmes and with inequality of access, improve the quality of programmes and tidy up the legislative and policy framework to improve coordination of delivery.
The number of children in grade R has increased in recent years. The table alongside, based on the education department’s provincial education management information systems, shows there were 487 000 children in grade R last year – 49% of the 2010 target of 990 000. Nevertheless, government is confident that target will be achieved.
To improve the quality of early childhood programmes, grade R teachers are being trained through the Expanded Public Works Programme’s social sector plan.
Pre-school children are provided for in the National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development published in 2005, which sets out government’s vision for children from birth to four. It demands a holistic approach to the young child’s needs and collaboration between departments and civil society and sets out the political and administrative structures that must drive the process.
The plan prioritises:
Integrated management of childhood diseases;
Immunisation;
Nutrition;
Referral services for health and social security grants;
Early learning stimulation; and
Development and implementation of psychosocial programmes.
Implementation of this plan depends on each province developing a plan in line with the national plan. Development of a provincial plan demands collaboration between government departments in budgeting and providing services to meet the needs of children. Not all provinces have developed a plan.
Chapter six of the new Children’s Act deals with early childhood development programmes that are not included in a registered school. The Act protects young children by requiring the registration of any programme that caters for more than six children. The draft regulations for implementation of the Act have been gazetted for comment and are now being finalised. The Act will serve our children well, provided we all work to implement it effectively.
The Office of the Rights of the Child (ORC), established by the government’s National Coordinated Framework for Children’s Rights in the presidency, in each premier’s office and in every municipality’s mayoral office, is responsible for monitoring and promoting the rights of children.
The ORCs are supported by an advisory council for children comprising representatives of government and civil society. Advisory councils may establish technical committees to advise on specialist areas, one of which may be early childhood development. Provinces are at different stages of implementation of their ORC structures.
South Africa has good policies and structures to ensure sound early childhood development programmes. They have great potential to benefit our children, but only if they are implemented effectively. Collaboration between government departments and between government and civil society can ensure this will happen.
Derek Pienaar is director of the Institute for Partnerships between Education and Business