Longtime champions of Early Childhood Development support, Breadline Africa is reflecting on the lessons they learnt in 2024 that can drive important change for South Africa’s youngest learners in 2025!
South Africa (07 February 2025) — The road to a brighter future for South Africa’s youngest learners is still a bumpy one. With that being said, this bright future that education experts speak about and non-profits dream about is not out of reach; it’s just going to take some elbow grease!
Speaking to this, longtime champion of Early Childhood Development (ECD), Breadline Africa’s Nyaradzo Mutanha, a MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning) Specialist, is sharing the lessons that Breadline has learned in 2024. These are lessons Nyaradzo and Breadline hope will drive important change for South Africa’s youngest learners in 2025 and beyond!
Context Counts
To understand the push behind ECD, we need to understand the context, pitfalls and opportunities of this landscape. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- ECD is largely inaccessible to underserved communities, meaning equitable ECD access has significant hurdles, as highlighted in a 2024 UNICEF report.
- Children under the age of six in South Africa face developmental challenges due to this limited access.
- A poor foundation of development can impact learners for years to come
Breadline Africa has supported over 800 ECD facilities that have benefitted over 40,000 children in under-resourced areas.
Their efforts, along with those they team up with, focus on key areas, including ECD practitioner training, upskilling, health services and nutrition support, as well as teaching, learning and play materials. Additional services boast of promoting child safety, encouraging parent engagement, and establishing monitoring systems to ensure continuous improvement.
These interventions align with the principles of the Nurturing Care Framework to ensure holistic support.
Lessons From Breadline
A Shift From Proving to Improving
Breadline shares that an important lesson to carry into 2025 is to shift focus from simply proving something is possible or meeting certain outcomes to an approach that celebrates continuous improvement.
“Effective impact measurement should help us identify actionable strategies that enhance our services rather than merely proving that we have met benchmarks,” says Nyaradzo.
“Policymakers can facilitate this alignment by championing frameworks that ensure clarity and coherence in ECD programming. When each stage of an initiative is purpose-driven, outcomes are more likely to reflect the actual needs of children and communities.”
The Power of Purposeful Data
“Data is a powerful ally, and it must be wielded wisely,” cautions Nyaradzo.
“In the ECD sector, we must look beyond enrolment figures and attendance records to understand the broader context of child development.
“By combining quantitative and qualitative data to examine the quality of learning environments, teacher-child interactions, and developmental outcomes, we can generate actionable insights. Every data point must translate into strategies that guarantee improved educational and caregiving experiences for children.”
Embracing Technology for Efficiency and Impact
As changes in the tech world continue to impact all of us, Nyaradzo encourages not the fear of digital advancements but rather systems that embrace them.
Certain digital tools can greatly enhance ECD programmes, from monitoring child development milestones to training staff.
“Policymakers should advocate for integrating these technologies in ECD initiatives to support data-driven decision-making,” Nyaradzo says.
Community-led Sustainability
It takes a village to raise a child. Nyaradzo highlights that the lasting impact of ECDs lies in the hands of community members, which is why local capacities need to be strengthened!
“By strengthening local capacities, we can ensure that the people who know their children best—parents, caregivers, and educators—are active participants in shaping programmes and advocating for the resources their children need. Policymakers are crucial in facilitating community engagement and investment, ensuring that local voices are heard and valued in the decision-making process,” Nyaradzo notes.
Committing to Ethical Collaboration
Transparent, ethical data practices are key to building community trust.
“Collecting data is only the first step; we must close the loop by transparently sharing findings and insights. This ethical approach fosters trust and ensures that programmes are responsive to the real needs of children and families,” says Nyaradzo.
“As we advocate for positive change in the ECD sector, our commitment to transparency must be unwavering.”
Looking Ahead: A Call to Action
“If South Africa is to break the cycle of inequality, investing in our youngest learners is non-negotiable,” Nyaradzo reflects.
“Right now, we stand at a crossroads that demands action. Policymakers, funders, and stakeholders must harness these insights to shape an ECD policy landscape that prioritises improvement, leverages technology, and champions community-led initiatives.”
Nyaradzo adds:
“Together, we can ensure that every child in South Africa has an equitable opportunity to thrive, nurturing our nation’s brighter future.”
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