In the first week of September 2021, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, signed a gazette – on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government – to proclaim the migration of early childhood development (ECD) services from the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
This after President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his State of the Nation Address, announced that the responsibility for Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) would be migrated from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Education.
This move will improve the development of children and the quality of early childhood education.
I believe this function-shift will bridge the income gap in Mzansi.
Based on evaluations of well-conceived programmes, it is demonstrated that children who participate in ECD programmes tend to be more successful in school, are more competent socially and emotionally, show better verbal, intellectual and physical development during early childhood than those not enrolled in high-quality programmes.
Given the alarming levels of malnutrition in children and their developmental vulnerability in early childhood, providing adequate nutrition is a key aspect of a quality ECD programme.
To counter malnourished children, nutrition allocation is embedded in the subsidy allocated to ECDs.
Children are provided with meals as guided by the Department of Health.
As we prepare for the function-shift in April, as a department we are excited about the transition as we expect better education outcomes for our children. As a department, we will remain committed to the social protection and development of our children.
- Morakane Mosupyoe (MEC for Social Development in Gauteng)
