Minister Siviwe Gwarube participates in Unicef Global High-Level Roundtable On Early Childhood Development, 10 Mar

Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, will participate in the UNICEF Global HighLevel Roundtable to discuss the first and second 1000 days in a child’s life she will the opportunity to emphasise the strategic reorientation of basic education to strengthening the foundations of learning, including expanding access to quality early childhood education. 

The Minister will highlight South Africa’s 2030 Strategy for ECD, which aims to achieve universal access to early learning, professionalize ECD practitioners, and strengthen multi sectoral collaboration to improve child outcomes. 

With global research showing that children who attend quality ECD programmes are more likely to succeed in school and beyond, Minister Gwarube will call for greater investment and international cooperation to close the access and quality gap. She will highlight South Africa’s new ECD Outcomes Fund, a R600 million investment over three years, as well as government-led reforms to register ECD centres, expand funding, and enhance practitioner training .

The Minister will also stress the importance of a whole-of-society approach, calling on governments, private sector partners, and civil society to work together in ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in life.

The Minister’s participation in this high-level roundtable reaffirms South Africa’s thought leadership in early childhood education and its commitment to ensuring that the next 1,000 days of a child’s life receive as much attention as the first 1,000 days. 

Members of the media are invited to join and report on the Roundtable as follows: 
Date: Today, Monday, 10 March 2025 
Time: 14:00
Virtual Link: Link 

Media RSVPs and Enquiries:
Lukhanyo Vangqa 
E-mail: Vangqa.L@dbe.gov.za
Cell:  066 302 153

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