ECD STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT COLLABORATION AND INTEGRATION: EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE: GDE 5 DECEMBER 2014
Introduction Three Goals, Nine Steps: A Gauteng Provincial Government s Experience to Integrate Holistic ECD Services.
GAUTENG PROVINCE
MAP OF GAUTENG
CHALLENGES A Gauteng Cabinet Memo depicted the position of ECD CHALLENGES programmes in Gauteng as still fragmented, uncoordinated, costly and inaccessible to underprivileged children A large number of children from poor homes are not given the opportunity of attending any programme and are extremely disadvantaged by the time they enter formal schooling.
CHALLENGES The following challenges were highlighted in the ECD SECTOR: CHALLENGES 1.Definition of ECD: inconsistencies within the targeted ages in each of the departments. 2. A fragmented Legislative Policy Framework for ECD. Resulting in uncoordinated delivery 3. Limited access to ECD 4. Inequities in ECD provisioning 5. Variable quality 6. Lack of Capacity 7. Interdepartmental and Intersectoral Collaboration to ensure adequate quality provisioning of ECD 8. Lack of an Integrated Monitoring Framework for ECD Services
BACKGROUND The National Cabinet challenged Provinces to consider ways on integrating ECD services: The Cabinet Memo of November 2004 set the scene for the integration of ECD activities. It proposed a mechanism that will function as a coordinating structure within government, which will work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the interest of ECD as a whole. The Gauteng Provincial Government endorsed this by developing ECD Strategy (GPG ECD STRATEGY) The Early Childhood Development Institute (ECDI) was then established, to promote best outcomes for birth to four years.
THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL ECD STRATEGY The development of the strategy and the establishment of the ECDI, is envisioned, that the key targets of the strategy will address the challenges to 2014 and Beyond THE GPG ECD STRATEGY : (LEGISLATION) Ensure well targeted ECD interventions to address social inequality Give poorest children a better start in life Ensure that ECD programmes benefit all children The strategy defines the role of the ECDI
KEY TARGETS OF THE GPG ECD STRATEGY 1. The creation of an enabling environment for expanding access to quality ECD services throughout the province 2. The creation of a safe, secure and conducive physical environment for expanding quality ECD service throughout the Province to Increase access to registered ECD sites that meet appropriate standards 3. Take into cognizance of the overall child health and well being, with particular emphasis on learners vulnerability due to poverty related factors 4. The development of high quality ECD practices which prepares learners for a smooth entry into primary schooling 5. Information is available to the public and all relevant stakeholders at multiple levels 6. The Universalization of Grade R with moving towards compulsory schooling by 2019 7. Striving to ensure ECD services within the province, effectively planned managed and coordinated
THREE GOALS, NINE STEPS INTEGRATE: integration of government ECD services INCREASE: increasing participation in quality ECD services IMPROVE: improving the quality of ECD services 10
NINE STEPS Integration of government ECD services Revised regulatory systems Revised funding system Revised resource strategy Re worked capacity building strategy Integrated monitoring and support strategy Increased involvement by government in ECD Implementation of an information strategy Introduction of professional registration requirements for all teachers/practitioners 11
ECD PROVSION IN GAUTENG ECDI Coordinating Role (Pre Grade R 0 4 year olds)and (Grade R 4,5/ 5 year olds) Grade R:Gauteng Department of Education, Training of Practitioners, Part Payment of Practitioners, In door and Our Door Learning and Teaching Resources Pre Grade R 0 4 year olds Department of Health and Social Development, Social Services registration of sites, subsidization. Health Services Child Health and Well Being. Local Government (Municipalities) by laws, health certificates NGO sector Already working closely with, Hope World Wide,, Safe and Sound, Play with a Purpose, JAM (Joint Aid Management), Cotlands, Play Africa Children s Museum, etc Funding/Donor Sector ( UNICEF, HOLLARD FOUNDATION, ABI, ABSA, LIBERTY LIFE, DG MURRAY TRUST, TSHIKULULU, Some of the funders in the ECD Sector)
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: GRADE R Provision of Access to Grade R, Provision of Infrastructure, Provision of LTSM, Training of Grade R Practitioners and Provision and Training of Curriculum PRE GRADE R Provision of Training and Curriculum, The Development of the Birth to Four Curriculum Training and LTSM Provision for the implementation GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Registration of places of care (ECD Centres, Crèches, Nursery Schools, Educare Centres, Play School and after care centres (0 4 year olds) Registering programmes and ensuring the disbursement of funds in the form a per capita subsidy per child R15 per day per child Maintaining a Provincial Database of Registered and Unregistered ECD sites and the maintenance thereof Monitoring and Evaluation of the Facilities and Programmes
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Quarterly ECD Stakeholder meetings: All relevant Departments: DSD, Municipalities, GDoH, NGOs FET Colleges Universities All Stakeholders involved in ECD Individuals and Interested parties
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Collaborative partnerships that have emanated from the Stakeholder Engagement: 1. Hope World Wide Operation Registration(Diepsloot, Daveyton) 2. JAM (Joint Aid Management) Intersectoral ECD Project in Orange Farm to 67 ECD centres 3. Stop Hunger Now SA Cotlands now collaborating with Stop Hunger Now for 2500 children to be fed 4. Play Africa Children s Museum
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Collaborative partnerships that have emanated from the Stakeholder Engagement: 5. Learn Not To Burn Programme The Gateway School for Learners with Special Needs, EMS and other 6. Verification and Mapping collaboration with all relevant departments and all relevant stakeholders. 7. UNISA Centre for Health and Social Serves
UPDATE ON PROJECTS Birth To Four Curriculum: Extensive consultation and collaboration in the process of developing the Curriculum. Pilot to 10 ECD sites Literature Review Phase 1 50 ECD sites Phase 2 100 ECD sites
UPDATE ON PROJECTS Learn Not To Burn Programme: EMS Adaptation for Learners with Special Nees, Through The Gateway School Collaboration with various stakeholders Integrated into Birth To Four Curriculum Rolled out to Gauteng Interest from Eastern Cape and Western Cape
UPDATE ON PROJECTS Integrated Monitoring Framework and Evaluation Tools UNICEF Toy Libraries The Development of: 1. Grade R Screening Tool for Early Learning Barriers 2. Pre Grade R Screening Tool for Early Learning Barriers Collaboration with ECI Early Childhood Intervention Forum (Premiers Office, GDoH, DSD, GDE)
TRAINING: GRADE R AND PRE GRADE Programmes for Teachers: NQF Level 4 for both Grade R and Pre Grade R NQF Level 6 Grade R Practitioners in the process of registration Birth To Four Curriculum and Learn Not To Burn Programme Conducted an Impact Study Birth To Four Curriculum and Learn not to Burn Programme and Programme for Heads of Departments: Developed a Manual on How To Manage a Grade R Class for Foundation Phase HOD s Trained District Facilitators to train and support HOD s in schools. Modules trained: Managing the Grade R Class Managing Barriers to Learning
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