PUBLIC CUSTOMER SERVICE
BY JESSIE TAYLOR
TOP PRIORITY: Service Delivery and Customer Care in SA Funding Scheme to keep classrooms open for small children As many of the country’s 32 000 Early Childhood Development centres face an uncertain future, a government fund looks to provide a lifeline until young learners can return to their classrooms. While many sectors were impacted by lockdown regulations in response to the global pandemic, the ECD sector has been particularly hard hit. Many of the businesses in this sector are small and privately owned, often providing services in impoverished areas. ECD education is vital for healthy childhood development. Not only does it prepare children for primary school, but it also develops the social, emotional, cognitive and physical wellbeing of children. This education
provides a foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. However, many families were forced to put this education on hold. Schools were forced to close for parts of the last year, and once opened, many of their learners did not return to the classroom due to concerns over safety or financial constraints due to job losses among parents. Relief for hard-hit programmes A relief fund has been established to stimulate the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector, to save jobs and keep business doors open. Payments commenced this month, with thousands of ECD staff expected to receive the once-off funding. The Department in the process of finalising ECD stimulus employment relief fund payments,
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after calling on small businesses in the sector – such as crèches, daycare services and nursery schools – to apply for assistance. The ECD stimulus employment relief fund provides a R496-million fund to assist South Africa’s ECD facilities, many of which have taken severe financial strain as a result of the various levels of national lockdown, imposed in response to Covid-19. The fund is designed to provide a one-off payment of around R4500 to ECD staff members, with four staff members eligible per facility. This includes cooks, administrators and other workers. However, the funds can only be applied for by the operator of the facility, and only one application can be made per facility. “Following the national call
