1. Marie-Louise Samuels 05 July 2019
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ECD
Marie-Louise Samuels
05 July 2019

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Looking back Mandate Social Justice in Education
Happening now
Conclusion 2

3. LOOKING BACK

4. We look back to move forward
(West African proverb)

5. LOOKING BACK
Audit of Early Childhood Development Policies
Nationwide Audit of ECD services
Education White Paper 5 on ECE
Conditional Grant
Children’s Act
Regulations
National Integrated Programme of Action
Outcome 1
NELDS
NDP
Racial discrimination of ECD provisioning
75% fee-based
80% private and 20% public
1994
1999
2004
2009
Pre-1994
2014
Education White Paper 1 on Transformation in Education
Interim Policy on Early Childhood Education
National Pilot Project
Equitable share (Grade R)
National Integrated Plan for ECD
Tshwaragano Ka Bana
ECD International Conference
Expanded Public Works Programme
ECD Policy and Programmes
National Curriculum Framework for Children from Birth to Four
Outcome 13

6. MANDATE

7. NDP – CHAPTER 9
“The quality and coverage of ECD services for children aged 0–4 years is poor.
The youngest (0–3 years) are best served through clinic, home and community-based programmes
4–5 year-old children benefit from some structured learning in-group programmes”.
NDP 2030 (Page 300)

8. NDP – CHAPTER 9…(2)
“Universal access to quality early childhood development for children aged 0–3 must be made available and have a strong nutrition and educational focus. Although early childhood development may continue to be provided through the private sector, a stronger role for the government is essential.”
NDP 2030 (Page 302) 3

9. NDP – CHAPTER 9…(3) Proposals for ECD
Make two (2) years of quality pre-school enrolment for 4 and 5 year olds compulsory before Grade 1.
NDP 2030 (Page 300)
Institutional Architecture
There should be a policy and programme shift to ensure that the Department of Basic Education takes the core responsibility for the provision and monitoring of ECD.
Other departments should continue to provide services in a supportive capacity.
Resource allocation should gradually reflect the changes
in institutional responsibility for early childhood development.
NDP 2030 (Page 302)

10. STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
“This year, we will migrate responsibility for ECD centres from Social Development to Basic Education,” and
“Proceed with the process towards two years of compulsory ECD for all children before they enter Grade 1.”
SoNA February 2019

11. RECONFIGURATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
“The Minister of Basic Education is responsible for the Department of Basic Education. The DBE will lead an integrated ECD function in collaboration with the DSD and the DoH.”
14 June 2019 Statement on Reconfiguration by Presidency

12. PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION

13. SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ECD

14. PROGRESS IN TERMS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES IN SCHOOLING
Access
99% of learners of compulsory school going age are enrolled in an education institution
Redress
9.7 million out of 12 million learners are receiving meals every day, and 80% of schools are No Fee paying schools.
Equity
54.8% Girl learners enrolled for NSC in 2018 vs 45.2% boy learners 79.8% boy learners obtained NSC vs 76.9% girl learners.
Efficiency
56% throughput rate and 9.6% repetition rates
Quality
Increase in the numbers and percentage of learners achieving admission to Bachelors (28.7% to 33.6%; to ) in 2018
Inclusivity
46.5 % of learners with Special Education Needs obtained Bachelor passes in 2018 NSC

15. SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ECD
How important are the social justice principles in our programmes as we look to the future?
What do we know?
What don’t we know?
How are we measuring the principles of social justice?
What are the stubborn problems that we have?
What must be done?

16. HAPPENING NOW

17. NATURE OF THE SHIFT
Immediate Shift - Overall leadership and coordination;
Gradual migration of Grade R and Grade RR
By 2024 all Grade R learners will be in schools (Public and Independent) and registered ECD centres; and
By 2030 all Grade RR learners will be in registered ECD centres and (Public and Independent Schools).

18. CHANGE DRIVERS
Leadership and Management that is underpinned by principles of
Access, Equity, Quality, Efficiency, Inclusivity, Social Justice, etc.
CHANGE DRIVERS
TARGETED CHANGES/AMENDMENTS
Legislation and Policy
Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as amended; SASA 84 of 1996; NQF Act; Integrated ECD Policy of 2015; MRTEQ Policy
Regulations
Norms and Standards (ECD sites; ECD programmes, funding, nutrition).
Funding
Reviewing the Funding Model and repurpose some of the Grants (ECD Function Shift; Reprioritisation of Sector Funding etc.)
Human Resource Development
Refocused HRD targeting Skills for the Changing World at every level including the Professionalisation of ECD practitioners.
Systems and Structures
Strengthening of and Integration of Data Systems; Procurement Systems; etc.
Change Management
Aggressive Advocacy and Communication Strategy
Partnerships
Leveraging on expertise and resources available within and outside of the sector.

19. CONCLUSION
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
African proverb

20. Ke nako