The Department of Education (DoE) has successfully managed the migration and management of the zero- to four-year-old early childhood development (ECD) component from the Department of Social Development. The DoE made the announcement on Friday June 10.

As of April 1, it has taken full responsibility and accountability for the learning and development of children in this age group.
The MEC for education, Bonakele Majuba, said, “The department is on a drive to expand ECD and to improve the quality of programmes on offer by ensuring that all five-year-old children have access to quality early childhood development and care, and are ready for primary school by 2025.

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“This programme has four subprogrammes that are to provide specific ordinary public schools with resources required for Grade R, to support Grade R and ECD centres, to provide training, to ensure payment of stipends to pre-Grade R practitioners, and to provide departmental services for the development of practitioners, educators and non-educators in Grade R.”

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According to him, there are 63 906 Grade R learners registered in public schools within the province.
Majuba said he appreciated the work done by social development.

“I wish to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to the leadership of the Department of Social Development under the stewardship of MEC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, for the level of professionalism and spirit of collaboration they applied during the transfer period.”