PRESENTATION FOR THE WORLD BANK TECHNICAL WORKSHOP OF THE AFRICA ECCD INITIATIVE 26-28 October 2009 ZANZIBAR.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

POLICY AND PRACTICE BY DR JULIANA SELETI

PRESENTATION FOR THE WORLD BANK TECHNICAL WORKSHOP OF THE AFRICA

ECCD INITIATIVE 26-28 October 2009 ZANZIBAR

INTRODUCTION South Africa-Geography. Socio, Economic and Political Context. Historical Context. Status and situation of young children. ECD terms in South Africa. What is policy? The dawn of ECD policy development. Definition of ECD in South Africa. Stages of Policy Development. Stakeholders in ECD Policy development. ECD departments and their roles. Critical Policy resources and products. Achievements from ECD policy implementation strategies. Lessons learnt towards Scaling up ECD.

SOUTH AFRICA-GEOGRAPHY

HISTORICAL CONTEXTSouth Africa became a democratic state in

1994, having abolished the apartheid system of government.

The system which was racially discriminative and unjust did not spare children.

There were no ECD policies even for the privileged children.

There was a fragmented system of ECD services and very few children benefited from it mainly among the whites,colourds, Indians and .

ECD TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICAECD Site is an ECD centre.Reception year (5year olds)is Kindergarten.Grade 0 or Pre-reception (4year olds) Grade 00 (3 year olds).ECD Practitioner is a non recognised ECD

teacher.

SOCIO,ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXT

11 languages 9 Provinces Multiparty parliamentary democracy, ANC most dominant party 29 government departments Policy and politics closely linked even at implementation level GDP $277 billion- High unemployment rate Industries, mining, manufacturing and agro processing Two economies- developed/under developed /unequal /distribution of

wealth Since 1994 changes and progress have been made in providing social

services through various programmes Access to health, education, housing and business opportunities have

improved Improved infrastructure

STATUS AND SITUATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN

There are 5,164 500 children ages birth to four55% belong to poor households2.8 on Child support grantsUnder five mortality rates 61% per 1000 live births

1998 and 57.6 per 1000 live births 79% children one year old immunisedThe percentage of children aged 0–4 years attending

an educational institution increased from 7,6% in 2002 to 16,6% in 2007.

The percentage of five-year-olds attending educational institutions increased from 40,1% in 2002 to 60,4% in 2007

WHAT IS POLICY?ECD Policy in this presentation is anything

that is an expression government’s intentions and commitment to meeting the needs and rights of young children, examples:

Plans Legislated documents such as Acts, Bills Government branded documents ,white papers. Guidelines Strategies Frameworks

THE DAWN OF ECD POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Organized policy development processes in all sectors and spheres of government, begun in the early 1990s, after Mandela was released and continued into early 2000s.

By 2003 the key Departments of Social Development and Education had developed their own ECD Policies.

Health did not have ECD policies but addressed young children’s needs, rights and issues, in their different Health policies, guidelines and strategies.

Policy development, included the ratification of international child related policy instruments and commitments .

DEFINITION OF ECD IN SAEarly Childhood Development in South Africa 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.

This definition is used widely by government and NGOs

The definition and understanding of ECD in SA is one of the products of ECD Policy consultations that took place in the early 1990s.

STAGES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENTSeparate ECD policy products were developed

across the key departments of Education, Social Development and Health, but using the same stakeholders.

Steps for ECD Policy development using stages approach:

Agenda setting : This was characterised by lobbying and

advocacy at national and provincial policy forums as well as research

STAGES OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT CONT......

Adoption: Various research various proposals and drafts were develop

through stakeholder participation and consultations

Pilot and national auditFormulation of Policy:

Final policy determined by government- influenced by critical needs, capacity and resources.

Implementation • Targeted implementation using social economic

levels to identify vulnerable and needy children

STAKEHOLDERS IN ECD POLICY DEVELOPMENT

The ECD policy development process, brought together many ECD role players such as:

Practitioners –Caregivers Local ECD structures and associations Researchers Advocates for child rights Training organisations and other NGOs Owners of ECD Centres Teachers Politicians

South African Congress for Early Childhood Development: Main structure for the early policy consultations Cymbal of racial unity in ECD Organised at national, provincial and regional levels

ECD DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR ROLES Key ECD Departments have developed policy products relating to their ECD roles and ages that they are responsible for:

Social Department- birth to five Social Grants, Subsidies, and site registration

Health Department -Prenatal to nine Integrated Management of Childhood Diseases, Primary Health

Care , HIV and AIDS interventions Department of Basic Education – birth to nine

Curriculum development and implementation Early Stimulation Teacher training Learning and teaching resources

Home Affairs: Birth + Birth Registration

Women and Children-New

CRITICAL POLICY RESOURCES AND PRODUCTS

National Policy Investigation 1992. White Paper 1 on Education 1995(Education Act). World Bank ECD Situation Analysis 1994

(Stakeholder lead). The Interim ECE Policy 1996. The National ECD Pilot (Stakeholder /government

partnership with )1996-1997. The ECD Audit ( Massive consultation )1999-2000. White Paper 5 on ECE.

CRITICAL POLICY RESOURCES AND PRODUCTS CONT....

White Paper on Social Development.Children’s Act.South Africa’s National Children’s Rights. Coordination

Framework.Guidelines for Early Childhood Development.Integrated Plan for Children affected and infected by

HIV and AIDS.Health Sector Strategic Frame work.The Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDs.The comprehensive Primary Health Care Package.The National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood

Development For Birth to Four (Only intersectoral policy document).

ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ECD POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

Well defined ECD units and sections were established in the departments of Education and Social Development .

Some departments have identified focal ECD people.Identification of different implementation strategies.Financing-ECD became a budget item with Treasury

from 2000.ECD has become a political priority and one of the apex

areas for government intervention.National programmes for poverty alleviation are using

ECD as a place to start implementation: Programme of Action Expanded Public Works programme

ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ECD POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

There is some collaboration between government and NGOs but it needs strengthening and formalising.

Number of registered sites have increased from less than 5000 in 2001 to over 11,000.

ECD training mechanisms in place.Number of trained and skilled ECD

practitioners is over 10,000 (No reliable system of data collection.

ECD Qualification system in place.

CHALLENGES

Lack of Social cohesion- barriers and extensive differences due to lack of unequal access to economic benefits amenities and resources.

Poverty -biggest challenge to ECD.Effects of HIV and AIDS-Child headed homes.No national advocacy. Lack of monitoring and evaluation.

CHALLENGES CONT....Intersectoral service delivery mechanisms not

in place.ECD financing has improved but still

inadequate.Spending of ECD financial resources

sometimes a problem.Financial tracking not in place.

LESSONS LEARNT TOWARDS SCALING UP ECD

Requirements for scaling up ECD particularlyfor birth to four:

Well defined policies and implementation strategies.

Un equivocal government commitment.Dedicated funding.Committed staff and ECD sections. An appropriate integrated approach.Clear planning and budgets for short term,

medium term, long term.

LESSONS LEARNT TOWARDS SCALING UP ECD CONT....

Interdepartmental collaboration. Intersectoral collaboration.Well defined systems and structures of service

delivery. Interventions must begin early (even prenatally).Use combination of interventions.utilize a range of delivery channels (e.g. centers,

crèches, health facility ,homes etc.).

SCALING UP FOR QUALITY

Important to note that quality interventions require -: Integration of health, nutrition, education, social and economic

development and care in ECD programmes. Collaboration between government and civil society organizations. Lower child to care giver ratios and smaller group sizes for younger

children. For purposes of monitoring and evaluation develop

standards or indicators for example for early learning,programmes, centers ,training etc.

SCALING UP FOR QUALITY CONT...Staff who are appropriately trained, receive

ongoing in-service training and supportive and continuous supervision.

Involvement of parents as partners with ECD practitioners.

Combines a package of multiple interventions (birth registration, supplementary food, social grants, parent education etc.).

Substantial investment resources required both for training and for payment of salaries of for ECD practitioners.

CONCLUSIONIt’s all about the children their needs

and rights(Young Lives UNICEF South Africa)