I want to start this week's posting by expressing my appreciation to Rebbecca, my international contact, for being such a wonderful and nice person. Within two weeks of my contacting and getting to know her, she has not only offered me highly informative and rich insights into early childhood programs and practices in South Africa, she has also become a caring and loving friend. Just this morning, she sent me an SMS wishing me “happy new month of December.”
In my discussions with Rebbecca on phone yesterday I asked her about the state of early childhood education in South Africa and what is the future of the child in South Africa in relationship with quality of programs and equal educational opportunities for all children. After our discussions she sent additional information through e mail and gave me the website and physical address of South Africa's Centre for Early Childhood Development.
According to Rebbecca, greater efforts has been concentrated on education after transition to democratic government in South Africa, government has introduced lot of initiatives and programs aimed at improving access, equity and quality. Government has increased funding, and took steps to bridge the achievement gap and stopped the system where funding is based on race.
For early childhood, the Early Childhood Development is the term used as general classification for the process and program through which children from ages 0 to 9 grow, flourish, and develop socially, physically, morally, and cognitively. The purpose is to protect the child's right to education and development in all domains. The Centre for Early Childhood Development based in Western Cape but with regional offices all over South Africa, coordinate and regulate early childhood education programs in South Africa.
As a measure of quality, all early childhood practitioner were given till 31 July, 2011 to register with the South African Council of Educators (SACE), there are conditions and standards to be met before they are registered and once they are registered, they are bound by the council's code of professional ethics. After 31 July, 2011 all unregistered day care, creche, and any other such programs are considered illegal and they face government sanction.
Despite all these efforts, the quality of schooling for children and accessibility in South Africa leaves much to be desired when properly assessed. For example, more than 50% of children still do not have access to any form of ECD. The good thing is that the government and the centre for early childhood development are aware of this and are making efforts at meeting the needs of South Africa's youngest children through a range of programs to children, families, educators, and communities. One of these programs is Little Village Early Learning Program through which (at the pilot stage) 100 early childhood educators and 1,884 children were provided with valuable learning materials. With such efforts there is hope for the child in South Africa and the cycle of poverty which is the greatest challenge that children face in South Africa will be broken.
Source:
Rebbecca Moyo (personal communication, November 30, 2011).
Shola, I really enjoyed reading the information that you have received from your new friend in South Africa. Interestingly enough, I have two contacts in Africa for our blog assignment during our Issues course! One is in the Western Cape as well and the other is in a small village in the country of Ghana. It appears that Africa also faces many of the same issues with excellence and equity as we do in the states.
ReplyDeleteWow Shola, first of all this sounds like a fantastic relationship you have developed with Rebbecca. Secondly, the information you (both) provided really educated me as well. That is amazing of how things are run there. What are "creche"? I have never heard of that term. However sounds like it is a difficult process under difficult situations. It is good to know that someone is working on helping the programs. Do you know what they are doing exactly? Great post, as usual. Thanks so much for sharing Shola.
ReplyDeleteShola,
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome that you have formed such a good relationship with your international contact. You are lucky to have been able to not only get a response from an international contact, but have found one that you can openly speak and converse with. It sounds like many efforts are being made in order to meet the needs of the children and although much more needs to be done it sounds like they are on the right track. It is good that they are doing so much to set policies and goals for the caregivers and programs. Great Post.