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ECDs urged to put children’s welfare first

We do not condone abuses of children at ECDs but urge the public to be aware of fake news and content creation as well, says president Mary Rametsi.

The president of the Alexandra ECD Association Forum, Mary Rametsi has called on nursery school members to always ensure they put the safety, welfare and future of the children first.

President of the Alexandra ECD Association Forum, Mary Rametsi. Photo: Sipho Siso

Speaking after one of their monthly meetings which will soon become quarterly, Rametsi dismissed some of the things often seen on social media about caregivers beating and abusing children in their creches.

“We do not condone such behaviour as a forum but urge the public to guard against fake news on social media and also take into cognisance that some of that content is created solely to make money out of the reviews received and may not necessarily reflect the true goings-on at the creche.

“I am not defending anyone here but expressing a view that we should consume and deal with that content with a lot of caution. Our view as a forum is that anyone found to flagrantly violating the law and rights of the children should be dealt with without exception,” Rametsi, who has 48 members from ECDs around Alex and has 24 years of experience in the ECD field, told Alex News in an interview.

President of the Alexandra ECD Association Forum, Mary Rametsi. Photo: Sipho Siso

The aim of the forum is precisely to deal with issues of abuse of children in the ECDs, help source training needs for those who require it and also share experiences as ECD members and endeavour to ensure creches uphold and comply with the law in their development of the children.

“In this field, you will need an experienced person to take you up by the hand and guide you as you work and worm your way to success. It’s not easy especially when you are just in it for the money and not the passion for the profession and love for the children.”

President of the Alexandra ECD Association Forum, Mary Rametsi. Photo: Sipho Siso

Rametsi, who has been running her own Happy Tots Day Care Centre at Botlhabela Complex in the Far East Bank area of Alexandra since 1999, said the formation of the forum in 2017 arose out of the need to help one another navigate the then-complex field of registration of a creche.
The forum was initially formed by three ECD clusters which have now grown to seven and consist of chairperson Priscilla Thongwana, vice-chairperson Wendy Ramogale, secretary Hlengiwe Sithole, vice-secretary Lydia Mabetoa, with treasurer Thandi Leruli, and additional members Sibongile Ncube and Muhle Sibeko.

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