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Children learn through play at the Little Red Dragon preschool, run by the Lebone Centre in Makhanda. Play helps children ‘read’ their world and tell their stories, a vital step in their literacy development. Photos: Debbie Smuts
CHILD MALNUTRITION

Preschoolers falling through the cracks

SA spends just 1.8% of its education budget on ECD: the damage shows

  • Cathy Gush
8 min read
The caregivers of children who are at home also need support. Photo: File
AUNTS

Mothers, grandmothers and other caregivers need care too

When we support caregivers, we build the future one conversation, one playful interaction, one child at a time

  • Shelley O’Carroll
5 min read
We owe it to our youth to provide them with the keys to opportunity. Let us walk this path together, turning our shared knowledge into action, and building a South Africa where every child can read for meaning.
ADULT LITERACY

South Africa has second highest rate of literate adults in Africa

But this starkly contrasts with the literacy problems faced by the younger population, particularly in the early primary grades

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Children who enter grade one at the minimum age of 5½ years are at a significantly higher risk of repeating the year than those who wait until they are six to start school, a study has shown
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Children who start grade one aged below six years at higher risk of having to repeat

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the need to provide universal early-childhood development services to improve learner outcomes

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
In an urgent application brought before the Johannesburg high court, the Equal Education Law Centre wants the right to early childhood development (ECD) to become part of the right to a basic education.
DBE

Gauteng education department has ‘no duty’ to provide ECD centres

The Equal Education Law Centre has launched an application against the department over its failure to provide education to children affected by last year’s Usindiso fire

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
(John McCann/M&G)
CONSTITUTION

Meals at early childhood development centres can help meet basic nutritional needs

But these ECD centres, which often provide children with their only meal for the day, need additional financial and other support to ensure the food is nutritious

  • Yolande Smit
  • Lisanne du Plessis
5 min read
2024 SASKO SIYASIZANA CAMPAIGN

Kgololo Academy in Alexandra receives a jungle gym through the Better-Quality Play campaign

Nominate a primary school or day-care centre to receive a R10 000 playground upgrade

  • SASKO
2 min read
CHOMI

Safe Parks provide essential support so children can learn

‘It’s a small step to encourage them to keep on with their schoolwork’

  • Momentum
4 min read
A playground created by SASKO.
ECD

SASKO Siyasizana aims to improve the lives of five million children by 2030

The initiative is boosting Mzansi’s communities through positive play

  • SASKO
3 min read
Takalani Netshitenzhe, External Affairs Director for Vodacom South Africa
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION

Transforming thousands of lives through early childhood development interventions

Vodacom’s ECD programme is not only benefiting children and their teachers but parents and the surrounding communities

  • Takalani Netshitenzhe
5 min read
SASKO kicks off its play day activation at Inkonkoni Primary School in Umlazi V Section.
ECD

SASKO Siyasizana initiative: Handover of the first of a 1 000 playgrounds in KwaZulu-Natal

The Play Better campaign targets early ECD and foundation phase learners with a strong anti-bullying message

  • SASKO
4 min read
Lizzy Litshani teaches about conservation through projects that empower the community surrounding her school
CONSERVATION

A teacher making a difference at a Limpopo wilderness school

Lizzy Litshani teaches about conservation through projects that empower the community surrounding her school

  • Lesego Chepape
4 min read
In an urgent application brought before the Johannesburg high court, the Equal Education Law Centre wants the right to early childhood development (ECD) to become part of the right to a basic education.
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Prioritising early intervention in education

Paving the path to a prosperous South Africa

  • Special Reports
4 min read
File photo
BUREAUCRACY

Early childhood development centres’ battle for formalisation hurts the poor

In recognition of this, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and department of basic education are working to standardise ECD centres so that they can all at least receive the…

  • Sumaya Hendricks
  • Qhamani Neza Tshazi
5 min read
ECD forums, if well run, have the potential to become essential resources in their communities. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)
ARE BAPALENG

Early childhood caregiving is the career that keeps giving

A programme that trains caregivers, mostly women, gives children a better start in life, helps close the gender pay gap and retains now-qualified women in the workforce

  • Phiwokuhle Raqa
4 min read
(John McCann/M&G)
COVID 19

Covid children’s project teaches crucial lessons

Early childhood development programmes can provide crucial services with the correct support

  • Laura Brooks
  • Andrew Hartnack
5 min read
South Africa’s first paediatric vaccine trial participant received the first shot of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
BETA VARIANT

Vaccination rate ramps up and registration for people aged 35 to 49 to open

More than 191 000 people were vaccinated on Thursday the daily target for next week is 250 00, says the health department

  • Charma du Plessis
2 min read
All teachers, including those with comorbidities, are expected to return to work when schools reopen, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Wednesday. (Paul Botes/M&G)
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

It’s back to school for the 16 000 teachers on special leave for comorbidities

People at early childhood development are still fighting to get Covid-19 vaccinations

  • Charma du Plessis
2 min read
The long wait to move early childhood development teachers to the department of basic education will be over in nine months, but this does not mean all of them are yet in line to be vaccinated. (Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Early childhood development teachers to move to basic education department from April next year

The long wait to move early childhood development teachers to the department of basic education will be over in nine months, but this does not mean all of them are yet in line to…

  • Charma du Plessis
4 min read
Early learning difficulties lead to school dropout, poor matric results, repeated school years and a less effective system for preparing young people for the world
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Some stimulation of children is better than none at all

The women who run early childhood centres in informal settlements frequently go without salaries and let children attend free of charge

  • Craig Kudita
3 min read