Deb Zelezniak, from the Santa Shoebox Project, advocates for the government to increase engagement with the women who head up ECD centres to help shape policies and make budget decisions that benefit children in South Africa.
South Africa (08 November 2024) – In the recently delivered Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a 5.6% annual increase in funding for basic education. This investment will be put towards improving educational outcomes through initiatives such as piloting a nutrition programme in early childhood development (ECD). While Deb Zelezniak, CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project, welcomes this, she stresses that more needs to be done to address the unique challenges faced by the ECD sector.
She advocates for increased engagement with the women who head up ECD centres in shaping policies and decisions, emphasising that their involvement is essential to driving meaningful reform in the sector.
“This will enhance the quality of education that they in turn provide and empower the country’s citizenry.”
“These efforts must be accompanied by the reclassification of ECD practitioners as teaching professionals,” Zelezniak insists. “Currently, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) considers ECD teachers self-employed, depriving them of career stability and undermining their role in foundational education. Moreover, they rely on the ECD grant which not only means they receive meagre salaries but are also denied access to benefits such as medical aid subsidies and housing allowances which are enjoyed by teachers permanently employed by the Department.”
“Upskilling educators is another critical element in advancing the sector, especially with close to half of practitioners lacking formal training or qualifications,” she points out. “While many ECDs function primarily as safe spaces for children while their parents work, it’s crucial that they offer more than safety—they must provide a solid educational foundation as well. This need is highlighted by the fact that only 10% of South African primary school teachers believe most children are developmentally ready for school, with a lack of early childhood education being a contributing factor.”
“South Africa’s ECD reform hinges on listening to the educators at its core. True educational progress begins by valuing those who teach and care for our youngest learners,” concludes Zelezniak.
Sources: Supplied
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