Following the recent policy change by the Gauteng Department of Health, which requires Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes to be registered to receive nutrition support, has led to over 600 advocates for young children marching from Beyers Naude Square in Marshalltown to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on April 20, 2024.
The practitioners called on all political parties to implement the People’s Manifesto for Early Childhood Development (ECD) in South Africa between 2024 and 2029. Ahead of the general elections on 29 May 2024, Real Reform for ECD assessed the manifestos of 13 political parties to see what they had said about ECD.
“Upon reviewing the current political manifesto, Real Reform realised that the parts speaking on ECD in these manifestos merely skimmed the surface of the challenges of the ECD sector and the work needed to address these issues. We developed a comprehensive ECD manifesto that recommends solutions that parliament can use in addressing these challenges,” said Tshepo Mantje, ECD coordinator at Equality Collective and the Coordinator of the Real Reform for ECD movement.
The ECD practitioner, Abram Kgari from the Diepsloot ECD Forum, described the policy change as ‘not punishing ECD practitioners, but the thousands of children they take care of. “The policy change abandons a prior inclusive approach that benefited all ECDs regardless of their registration status, and it comes in stark contrast to the ongoing campaign led by the Real Reform for Early Childhood Development (RR4ECD) movement which advocates for universal nutrition rights for all eligible children.”
The Director of Motheo Training Institute Trust, Mr Rex Molefe made a statement on the importance of government taking ECD seriously. “The government needs to take the programme seriously including increasing the subsidy to R46 per child per day, passing the second children’s amendment bill and reducing red tape for ECDs to get registered, and developing a real HR plan for ECD that it can get registered and earn a meaningful wage,” he said.
Real Reform for ECD has handed over the ECD Manifesto to the ANC, the DA, the EFF, Rise Mzansi and Action SA and they are awaiting feedback on when they can engage them further.
Rex further mentioned, “My heart is full. Thank you to all those who are helping to improve the state of ECD every day. To those who signed the petition and endorsed the manifesto. To those who helped to improve it. To the incredible Real Reform for ECD team who pulled it all together (over and above their day jobs). You are seen and appreciated. Together, we are building power so that we can see real change, for children, for ECD practitioners, for parents and for our country.”
By Simphiwe Nkosi
