Beware of ‘fly-by-night’ pre-schools in Limpopo

Parents, guardians and first year students are warned at the beginning of each academic year to beware of fly-by-night institutions of higher learning. Little is however being said about unregistered pre-schools which operate without qualified early childhood development (ECD) educators in the province.
During an interview Charmaine Botha, Limpopo Independent Pre-Schools Association chairperson, Limpopo ECD Inter-sectoral committee member, and Eduexperts representative, revealed that there are at least 398 preschools in the city but only about 100 are registered and teach learners guided by the new curriculum being Early Learning and Development Area (Elda) whereas unregistered preschools focus their teachings on the old curriculum hence hindering children’s development.
Botha stated that a lack of registered preschools was a major concern in the city because the first 1 000 days of a child are vital and education is of profound importance in preschools for children to excel in their studies in primary schools. She further said four preschools in Limpopo were forced to close because they did not have relevant documents. Botha added that schools that do not comply with the Department of Social Development’s basic norms and standards get a notice to close shop which then leaves children vulnerable and parents stressed because it is not an easy task to acquire admission in schools in the middle of the year.

She said in the last two months they helped 68 schools in the province to register. According to Botha, the Department of Social Development’s intention is not to close preschools but to assist them to acquire relevant documents to operate.
“We need to make our province safer by registering preschools and teaching relevant curriculum because this is an important stage of a child. We need to lay a solid foundation in a child’s life. There are con artists out there who request between R7 000 to R9 000 to assist operators to register their preschools hence our people should look out for such scammers because registering a preschool is free of charge,” explained Botha.
She said their objective and goal is to ensure that every child between the ages of zero to six years is in a safe environment that meets the minimum norms and standards of the Department of Social Development. She indicated that one may not operate a preschool to function as a day-mother, after-care and a partial caregiver among others, if they are not registered with the department.
There are many children who do not get access to learning because of a lack of registered and well established preschools hence all ECD centres are urged to comply with rules and regulations, she stated. Children are not supposed to be in somebody’s care who is not qualified and are not supposed to be accommodated in someone’s garage, container or a preschool that is not registered, explained Botha, adding that parents should always make sure that they enrol their children in registered schools.
There are a number of things one should acquire to operate a school and the requirements include a correct zoning and bylaws from the municipality, health certificate, fire safety certificate and educators should have at least the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4, she emphasised. “We are fighting for the rights of the children in the country and we have to make sure that educators in ECD centres know what they are doing. I would like to urge operators to seek assistance to get their schools registered and for educators to acquire relevant skills and knowledge to be able to teach children,” she concluded.
Communications and Marketing Manager of Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo reported that the property must be zoned for ECD purposes for one to acquire proper land use rights. He further said when one applies for re-zoning, they must clearly indicate the purpose for environmental health experts from the district municipality to check if the premises comply with the required standards.
Department of Education spokesperson, Sam Makondo indicated that preschools are registered with the Department of Social Development not the Basic Education.
A comment from the Department of Social Development was awaited at the time of going to print.

Story, photo & video: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za