EDUCAT ION
EARLY FOUNDATIONS ANÉL LEWIS reports on how investment into early childhood development offers high returns for all involved
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ost of the cognitive development a child needs to become an adult who can contribute meaningfully to the economy occurs during the first five years. Yet, in South Africa, the Read Educational Trust estimates that fewer than 20 per cent of children in this age group have access to formal preschool education. Education and socioeconomic development (SED) consultant Thandile Ntshwanti explains that children are creative by nature and find ways to play even if they’re living in communities where resources are scarce. “But Paul Miller just because children can make a plan is no justification for us not investing in meaningful resources for early childhood development (ECD) centres,” she explains. “We reportedly develop 85 per cent of our brains by the time we turn five, with the brain developing at its fastest from birth to two. This tells me how critical it is to expose children to what they need to stimulate that level of growth.” Yet StatsSA says that close to 3.4 million South African children under the age of six have no access to any form of ECD programmes, and many who do, attend unregistered centres with poor resources and facilities. “The chasm between the vulnerable versus the affluent in our country will be exacerbated if (these) key factors aren’t addressed by government, the private sector, education institutions and society,” says Silas Pillay, director of academics at The Love Trust. Pillay adds that students with preschool experience in most cases demonstrate higher scores on literacy, vocabulary, mathematics or quantitative.
THE BOTTOM LINE Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa, says that an emphasis on
Thandile Ntshwanti
children from a young age can lead to years of opportunity and growth for the economy as well. Research by Professor James Heckmann, an American expert in the economics of human development, suggests that compared with spending on primary or secondary education, ECD investment in disadvantaged communities offers the highest return for a country – estimated at 10 per cent annually – through better outcomes in education, health, sociability, economic productivity and reduced crime. This is supported by a discussion document on early childhood development in South Africa by nonprofit organisations Ilifa Labantwana and Kago Ya Bana, where it’s noted that for every rand invested in quality ECD, the economy gets at least R10 back.
FAST FACT
More than 1.1 million children between the ages of three and five do not attend any form of ECD programme. Source: South African Early Childhood Development Review (2019)
DID YOU KNOW?
At least two-thirds of ECD programmes in South Africa are not registered Source: SmartStart
of spaces that support our children are not registered the way we want them to be. This is where we often find shortcomings, and is where we need support from the corporate sector,” says Ntshwanti.
PROVIDING THE TOOLS
Public-private interventions provide finance and infrastructure so that these facilities can be run as sustainable businesses that contribute to the development of children, says IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY Miller. The Cipla Foundation ECD also helps create helps ECDs to become productive citizens, says Taylor sustainable by providing centres Kwong, CSI and marketing in underdeveloped communities manager for Vuma. “Laying with infrastructure and teacher this groundwork improves support. “These are not just children’s ability to enter school simply spaces where children ready to learn, stay in school are kept for the day, they also longer, reduce grade repetition offer the mental stimulation, daily and empower them to achieve Taylor Kwong nutrition, responsive care, safety education levels that set them and the security children need to up for success.” Vuma is the thrive in the first 1 000 days of their lives.” connectivity partner and sponsor for L.U.C.C.A. School, a special needs school for children with multiple disabilities. “Intervention at primary THE SHIFT TO ECD SUPPORT school level is usually too late; this could be one “With a network of organisations committed to of the leading factors for the country’s high holistic education and care of preprimary children drop-out levels,” says Miller. – including nutrition, psychosocial and remedial support – we believe we can reduce poverty and social inequality,” says Pillay. Ntshwanti says FORMALISING EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING corporate South Africa has become While corporates are keen to support registered more cognisant of the value or formal early childhood development of ECD, broadening its programmes, the real need lies in communities support beyond Grade where ECD opportunities are almost 12, maths and science. nonexistent, or where creches and playgroups “Ultimately, we will are run by people not versed in early childhood have a country that is education, says Ntshwanti. “The majority self-sustaining because we are pulling from all angles – government, universities, NGOS and corporates.”
“WE REPORTEDLY DEVELOP 85 PER CENT OF OUR BRAINS BY THE TIME WE TURN FIVE, WITH THE BRAIN DEVELOPING AT ITS FASTEST FROM BIRTH TO TWO.” – Thandile Ntshwanti
Silas Pillay
H U M A N R I G H T S D AY
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