The developments and improvement of Early Childhood Development (ECD), especially in poor and vulnerable children is one of UNESCO’s aims together with the Education for All (EFA) initiative from the Department of Education.

However, the quality of ECD in South Africa is concerning, even though the number of grade 0 learners that attend public school have risen from 15% in 1999 to 50% in 2009. According to the EFA report, the number of five and six-year old learners in grade 0 in 1999 went from 156 292 to 620 223 in 2009. The government’s initial aim was that all learners of this age in South Africa should be in grade 0 by 2010, but it had to be moved to 2014. The main reason was that not all provinces progressed at the same pace to achieve the set target.

According to Dr. Ellen Lenyani (researcher on ECD, UNISA) the problem with ECD in South Africa is that the approach is fragmented without effective coordination between Education, Social, Welfare and Health Departments. There is a true concern about the quality of education as well as the environment where early child development is taking place. There are many centers or classrooms where there are not the appropriate toys, equipments or space that learners need to learn though exploration. A further concern is the quality of training of the ECD practitioners and teachers.

To address the problem of poorly qualified ECD practitioners, Maths Centre is offering training on NQF level one, four and five with the following qualification as a result:

Level 1: Basic Certificate: Early Childhood Development
Level 4: Further Education and Training Certificate: Early Childhood Development
Level 5: National Diploma: Early Childhood Development

Urgent funding is needed to sponsor ECD practitioners of identified poor and vulnerable communities to undergo the training that Maths Centre is offering.

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