Early Childhood Development (ECD)

World Vision South Africa (WVSA) conceptual framework

Children raised …in poor families are most at risk for infant death, low birth weight, stunted growth, poor adjustment to school, increased repetition and drop-out rates.

(Education White Paper 5 on ECD, 2001)
 

What is ECD?

“Early Childhood Development” (ECD) is an “umbrella term” or a general classification that refers to the processes by which children from ages birth - 9 grow and flourish socially, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and morally.” More info: Department of Education

 

Purpose and approach

“In South Africa, Early Childhood Development refers to a comprehensive approach to policies and programmes for children from birth to 9 years of age, with the active participation of their parents and caregivers. Its purpose is to protect the child’s rights to develop his or her full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.”

Tshwaragano Ka Bana: An Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development in South Africa. Version 3:June 2005)
 

1.2       Children’s Amendment Act (2007)

Chapter 6 of the Children’s Amendment Act (2006) contains the regulations with respect to ECD in SA. The act clearly states that successful ECD is a joint effort between parents, the community and the government and to which many individuals in the community must contribute. ECD, as it is presented here, refers to a comprehensive approach to policies and programmes for children with the active participation of parents and caregivers. Its main purpose is to protect child rights.”

1.3       ECD Context in South Africa

Facts that impact on child development in SA:

6.5 million children between birth and 6 years.

84% of these have no access to any form of ECD.

Under 5 mortality rate has risen to 42%. HIV&AIDS continues to destroy livelihoods at family and community level.

Women account for 55% of people living with HIV&AIDS.

HIV prevalence in informal urban settlements is almost twice as high as formal urban areas (17.6% vs 9.1%).

42% of children live in a household where neither parent is employed.

39% of households are headed by single women and these households have half the income in comparison with male-headed households.

1 out of 10 children in 2000 were found to be severely malnourished and 1 in 3 children suffer from Vit A deficiency.

The Child Support Grant has been shown to have a positive impact on child nutrition, growth and hunger.

Even though the Western Cape is one of the better resourced provinces we could assume that the situation as follows would not be better – 60% of children did not achieve the reading and numeracy levels set in the national curriculum and 15% could not read and calculate at the most basic level.

Of the 54,503 working in ECD sites only 12% are qualified, leaving 88% requiring additional training. (23% have no training at all.)

International research reveals that “regardless of cultural distinction or level of development, it is that pre-school education for children greatly improves their chances of subsequent success in school. In particular, early childhood education can make a critical difference in the lives of disadvantaged children.”

The Centre for Early Childhood Development

1.4       The Tshwaragano Ka Bana: An Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development in South Africa

The Tshwaragano Ka Bana government ECD programme - (a result of a mandate to the Social Sector Cluster to develop an integrated plan for ECD), “reasserts the leading role of the government in formulating, implementing and monitoring policies and programmes on early childhood development,  whilst recognizing the important role played by non-governmental and community-based organizations.”

The programme is premised on the World Bank’s five approaches to developing young children, namely, (1) delivering services to young children, (2) training care-givers and educating parents, (3) promoting community development, (4) strengthening institutional resources and capacity, and (5) building public awareness and enhancing demand.

The government has also determined that targeting as an approach to delivery is justifiable. Therefore it is using income, geographic location and age to prioritize the provision of access to quality ECD services to poor and most vulnerable children. That is: -

Income – the poor and most vulnerable (urban and rural);

Geographic location – the 21 ISRDS nodes and the URP; and

Age – 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 have different needs.

The context is also recognized in that no single model could cater for the diverse needs, and so a range of services could be offered, including, home and centre based services, after-care for school going children, stimulation programmes including part-day programmes and family education, and health and nutrition.

Further it recognizes that integration is key to yielding sustainable results and that there should be coordinated efforts between government departments and other stakeholders.
 

2.         WVSA Integrated Approach

In order to draw on the government’s ECD programming and policies, as briefly illustrated above, WVSA will engage local stakeholders, corporates and individuals to support community based development projects around ECD. This would include raising awareness, resources and funding for South African supported Area Development Programs (ADPs), and stand alone programs, for ECD.

The proposed integrated approach is illustrated in the framework below. It takes as its point of departure, as does the government programme above, that children have different needs at different ages and that what is required by them can by extension include/address the needs of their family households where this children grow.

The key components of this approach will include:

Integrated programming including ECD, nutrition, health, HIV&AIDS prevention, care and support and advocacy;

Empowerment of community based ECD centres – finances, resources, sponsorship; and

Sourcing resources from corporates and individuals – sponsorship and PNS.

WVSA ECD Operating Model

Coordinating and operational partnerships with government departments, CBOs, and FBOs.

Operational partnerships for ECD teacher and other training with appropriated NGOs.
 

WVSA ECD Financing Model

In the 1990s WVSA worked extensively through ECD centres, some of which were projects in their own right while other projects consisted of groupings of ECD centres.

Much of WVSA work (then and into the future) with ECD centres was funded by both sponsorship and PNS funding from local sources as well as the partnership. Local sources included corporates and individuals who made use of the tax rebates allowed within legislation.