Development (ECD) registration drive
8 October 2007
The Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya will officially launch the
department's national Early Childhood Development (ECD) services registration
campaign at the Temba stadium in Hammanskraal on Thursday, 11 October.
Skweyiya will be accompanied by the MEC for Social Development in Gauteng,
Kgaogelo Lekgoro and senior political representatives of the Tshwane
Metropolitan Council.
The Department of Social Development is responsible for the registration of
places of care or ECD sites where more than six children are cared for away
from their parents or caregivers. Places of care include crèches, playgroups,
after-school centres or a combination of the three.
A national audit of ECD conducted in 2000 identified a total of 23 482
sites, 60% of which were located in urban areas. More than 9 000 of the sites
are registered with the Department of Social Development or Education. Of those
children in ECD provision, many are in centres that do not have trained
personnel or the necessary materials to ensure the appropriate development of
children in their care.
The audit found that 23% of the existing caregivers have no training and
most of the remaining 85% need further training.
"There are hundreds of ECD centres around the country which remain
un-registered. In that way, we are unable to assist the service providers with
regards to training, to ensure adherence to norms and standards, assist with
subsidies should they qualify to receive them, and generally to support the
Centre personnel to ensure optimal care for the children," said departmental
Director-General, Vusi Madonsela.
Currently 5 431 centres receive financial support in subsidy form from the
department reaching 314 912 children aged five years and younger.
"The ECD is effective child abuse detection and prevention programme, as
early signs of child abuse and neglect can be easily detected if the child
attends an ECD programme. The ECD programme has also been identified as a
poverty alleviation mechanism and a job creation instrument within the social
cluster, forming part of government's Expanded Public Works Programme,"
Madonsela added.
Key government departments in the delivery of ECD services are the Social
Development, Education and Health.
The media is invited to cover the event starting at 9h30.
Enquiries contact:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Media RSVPs:
Zingaphi Jakuja
Cell: 074 197 8383
Jonas Mashigo
Tel: 012 312 7793
Issued by: Department of Social Development
8 October 2007
