The Early Childhood Development (ECD) framework covers four important areas – the first 1000 days of a child’s life, early learning and protection, caring for the caregiver and family support. Children and Caregivers.
ECD Services In South Africa
A nation that invests in its youngest citizens shows wisdom and foresight, and can therefore be assured of a promising future.1 This essay argues for investment in essential services that support and promote young children’s development and the realization of their full potential.
It describes pertinent conceptual shifts and related actions needed to improve and extend current service delivery, and considers strategies to ensure that early childhood development (ECD) interventions are implemented effectively at community level.
The essay answers the following questions:
• Investing in ECD interventions – what difference will it make?
• From concepts to action – how do we move ECD services
forward?
• Making ECD services work – how do we apply an ecological
approach?
Investing in ECD interventions – what difference will
it make?
Global evidence is increasingly demonstrating that quality ECD interventions provide both immediate and long-term benefits for children and communities, and this strengthens the rationale for effective and sustained investment. Investing in ECD yields tangible returns, especially for young children living in poverty. As such ECD serves as an effective equaliser in the long-term, and a more concerted investment in ECD would have contributed towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2025.
ECD interventions have the potential to, amongst others:
• reduce child mortality through the use of volunteer community health agents (as shown in Brazil’s Pastoral da Crianca and Primeira Infância Melhor programmes2
• build social capitalii as early interventions can enhance academic performance and strengthen community networks, social infrastructure and service delivery through community participation (as illustrated in Cuba’s national ECD programme,3 Nigeria’s COLONISA4 and South Africa’s Impiloiii project);
• lessen the drain on national resources by reducing school grade repetition and social welfare expenditure (as demonstrated in Brazil’s Pastoral da Crianca programme);
• prevent developmental delay through intensive early intervention and responsive community-based programmes (as shown in the Chicago longitudinal study5 and Brazil’s Pastoral da Crianca programme); and
• improve gender relations by promoting better socialization (as illustrated in Malawi
An estimated 58% of children in South Africa live in poverty (with a per capita income of less than R604/month)7 and glaring racial and geographic disparities persist – 66% of African children continue to live in poverty compared to Coloured (30%), Indian (8%) and White (2%) children.
Child neglect and malnourishment is a serious consequence of poverty. ECD interventions therefore play a critical role in identifying and responding to children who are most vulnerable8 , and have the potential to break intergenerational cycles of poverty.
What is the role of the ECD service in education in South Africa?
Early childhood development (ECD) is a comprehensive approach to programmes and policies for children from birth to seven years of age. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.
What is the current ECD provision in South Africa?
In South Africa, ECD centres can be described as facilities for children from birth up to the year before they enter formal schooling, where they are provided with care and early childhood programs focusing on development and early learning (DoSD 2014(DoSD , 2025.
How much do ECD teachers earn in South Africa?
A mid career Early Childhood Development Practitioner with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of R 6 000, while an experienced ECD Practitioner with 10-20 years of experience makes on average R 9 000. ECD Teachers with more than 20 years of experience may earn more than R 10 000 per month.
What requirements are needed to study ECD in South Africa?
Please note: To qualify for the funding of ECD programmes, you must comply with the prescribed national norms and standards.
You must:
be fit and proper.
have an appropriate ECD qualification, skills and training.
have worked in the early childhood development field for a minimum of three years.
How long does it take to study ECD in South Africa?
Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education is offered as an e-learning qualification. The minimum period for completion is 12 months and the maximum period is 24 months.