EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
POLICY AND PRACTICE BY DR JULIANA SELETI
PRESENTATION FOR THE WORLD BANK TECHNICAL WORKSHOP OF THE AFRICA
ECCD INITIATIVE 26-28 October 2009 ZANZIBAR
INTRODUCTION South Africa-Geography. Socio, Economic and Political Context. Historical Context. Status and situation of young children. ECD terms in South Africa. What is policy? The dawn of ECD policy development. Definition of ECD in South Africa. Stages of Policy Development. Stakeholders in ECD Policy development. ECD departments and their roles. Critical Policy resources and products. Achievements from ECD policy implementation strategies. Lessons learnt towards Scaling up ECD.
SOUTH AFRICA-GEOGRAPHY
HISTORICAL CONTEXTSouth Africa became a democratic state in 1994,
having abolished the apartheid system of government.
The system which was racially discriminative and unjust did not spare children.
There were no ECD policies even for the privileged children.
There was a fragmented system of ECD services and very few children benefited from it mainly among the whites,colourds, Indians and .
ECD TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICAECD Site is an ECD centre.Reception year (5year olds)is Kindergarten.Grade 0 or Pre-reception (4year olds) Grade 00 (3 year olds).ECD Practitioner is a non recognised ECD
teacher.
SOCIO,ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
11 languages 9 Provinces Multiparty parliamentary democracy, ANC most dominant party 29 government departments Policy and politics closely linked even at implementation level GDP $277 billion- High unemployment rate Industries, mining, manufacturing and agro processing Two economies- developed/under developed /unequal /distribution of
wealth Since 1994 changes and progress have been made in providing social
services through various programmes Access to health, education, housing and business opportunities have
improved Improved infrastructure
STATUS AND SITUATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN
There are 5,164 500 children ages birth to four55% belong to poor households2.8 on Child support grantsUnder five mortality rates 61% per 1000 live births
1998 and 57.6 per 1000 live births 79% children one year old immunisedThe percentage of children aged 0–4 years attending
an educational institution increased from 7,6% in 2002 to 16,6% in 2007.
The percentage of five-year-olds attending educational institutions increased from 40,1% in 2002 to 60,4% in 2007
WHAT IS POLICY?ECD Policy in this presentation is anything
that is an expression government’s intentions and commitment to meeting the needs and rights of young children, examples:
Plans Legislated documents such as Acts, Bills Government branded documents ,white papers. Guidelines Strategies Frameworks
THE DAWN OF ECD POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Organized policy development processes in all sectors and spheres of government, begun in the early 1990s, after Mandela was released and continued into early 2000s.
By 2003 the key Departments of Social Development and Education had developed their own ECD Policies.
Health did not have ECD policies but addressed young children’s needs, rights and issues, in their different Health policies, guidelines and strategies.
Policy development, included the ratification of international child related policy instruments and commitments .
DEFINITION OF ECD IN SAEarly Childhood Development in South Africa refers
to a comprehensive approach to policies and programmes for children from birth to 9 years of age, with the active participation of their parents and caregivers. Its purpose is to protect the child’s rights to develop his or her full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.
This definition is used widely by government and NGOs
The definition and understanding of ECD in SA is one of the products of ECD Policy consultations that took place in the early 1990s.
STAGES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENTSeparate ECD policy products were developed
across the key departments of Education, Social Development and Health, but using the same stakeholders.
Steps for ECD Policy development using stages approach:
Agenda setting : This was characterised by lobbying and
advocacy at national and provincial policy forums as well as research
STAGES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT CONT......
Adoption: Various research various proposals and drafts were develop
through stakeholder participation and consultations
Pilot and national auditFormulation of Policy:
Final policy determined by government- influenced by critical needs, capacity and resources.
Implementation • Targeted implementation using social economic
levels to identify vulnerable and needy children
STAKEHOLDERS IN ECD POLICY DEVELOPMENT
The ECD policy development process, brought together many ECD role players such as:
Practitioners –Caregivers Local ECD structures and associations Researchers Advocates for child rights Training organisations and other NGOs Owners of ECD Centres Teachers Politicians
South African Congress for Early Childhood Development: Main structure for the early policy consultations Cymbal of racial unity in ECD Organised at national, provincial and regional levels
ECD DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR ROLES Key ECD Departments have developed policy products relating to their ECD roles and ages that they are responsible for:
Social Department- birth to five Social Grants, Subsidies, and site registration
Health Department -Prenatal to nine Integrated Management of Childhood Diseases, Primary Health
Care , HIV and AIDS interventions Department of Basic Education – birth to nine
Curriculum development and implementation Early Stimulation Teacher training Learning and teaching resources
Home Affairs: Birth + Birth Registration
Women and Children-New
CRITICAL POLICY RESOURCES AND PRODUCTS
National Policy Investigation 1992. White Paper 1 on Education 1995(Education Act). World Bank ECD Situation Analysis 1994
(Stakeholder lead). The Interim ECE Policy 1996. The National ECD Pilot (Stakeholder /government
partnership with )1996-1997. The ECD Audit ( Massive consultation )1999-2000. White Paper 5 on ECE.
CRITICAL POLICY RESOURCES AND PRODUCTS CONT....
White Paper on Social Development.Children’s Act.South Africa’s National Children’s Rights. Coordination
Framework.Guidelines for Early Childhood Development.Integrated Plan for Children affected and infected by
HIV and AIDS.Health Sector Strategic Frame work.The Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDs.The comprehensive Primary Health Care Package.The National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood
Development For Birth to Four (Only intersectoral policy document).
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ECD POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
Well defined ECD units and sections were established in the departments of Education and Social Development .
Some departments have identified focal ECD people.Identification of different implementation strategies.Financing-ECD became a budget item with Treasury
from 2000.ECD has become a political priority and one of the apex
areas for government intervention.National programmes for poverty alleviation are using
ECD as a place to start implementation: Programme of Action Expanded Public Works programme
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ECD POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
There is some collaboration between government and NGOs but it needs strengthening and formalising.
Number of registered sites have increased from less than 5000 in 2001 to over 11,000.
ECD training mechanisms in place.Number of trained and skilled ECD
practitioners is over 10,000 (No reliable system of data collection.
ECD Qualification system in place.
CHALLENGES
Lack of Social cohesion- barriers and extensive differences due to lack of unequal access to economic benefits amenities and resources.
Poverty -biggest challenge to ECD.Effects of HIV and AIDS-Child headed homes.No national advocacy. Lack of monitoring and evaluation.
CHALLENGES CONT....Intersectoral service delivery mechanisms not
in place.ECD financing has improved but still
inadequate.Spending of ECD financial resources
sometimes a problem.Financial tracking not in place.
LESSONS LEARNT TOWARDS SCALING UP ECD
Requirements for scaling up ECD particularlyfor birth to four:
Well defined policies and implementation strategies.
Un equivocal government commitment.Dedicated funding.Committed staff and ECD sections. An appropriate integrated approach.Clear planning and budgets for short term,
medium term, long term.
LESSONS LEARNT TOWARDS SCALING UP ECD CONT....
Interdepartmental collaboration. Intersectoral collaboration.Well defined systems and structures of service
delivery. Interventions must begin early (even prenatally).Use combination of interventions.utilize a range of delivery channels (e.g. centers,
crèches, health facility ,homes etc.).
SCALING UP FOR QUALITY
Important to note that quality interventions require -: Integration of health, nutrition, education, social and economic
development and care in ECD programmes. Collaboration between government and civil society organizations. Lower child to care giver ratios and smaller group sizes for younger
children. For purposes of monitoring and evaluation develop
standards or indicators for example for early learning,programmes, centers ,training etc.
SCALING UP FOR QUALITY CONT...Staff who are appropriately trained, receive
ongoing in-service training and supportive and continuous supervision.
Involvement of parents as partners with ECD practitioners.
Combines a package of multiple interventions (birth registration, supplementary food, social grants, parent education etc.).
Substantial investment resources required both for training and for payment of salaries of for ECD practitioners.
CONCLUSIONIt’s all about the children their needs
and rights(Young Lives UNICEF South Africa)
