Basic Education Department Basic Education Division

Subsequent presentations and panel discussions addressed the standing of ECD in South Africa and key challenges that have affected its implementation over the previous three many years. Acting Director for ECD at the DBE, Dr Janeli Kotze, highlighted a number of critical points, including the big variety of unregistered ECD centres and monetary constraints stopping many kids from accessing ECD providers. She noted that regardless of the National ECD policy Education news being in place for the past seven or eight years, progress has been slower than anticipated, with targets set for 2024 not yet met. She emphasised the necessity to strengthen implementation and confused the significance of play-based learning as a basic strategy to ECD. The national curriculum covers subjects that are taught at major and secondary colleges and the requirements college students ought to reach in every topic.