Investing in Early Childhood Development: A Call for Action
As the 2025 National Budget Speech approaches, the Real Reform for ECD movement is urging Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to allocate more funds towards expanding access to early childhood development (ECD) services for all children in South Africa.
The current state of ECD in the country is alarming, with seven out of ten children living in poverty and over 1.15 million children aged 3-5 not receiving any early learning opportunities. Even for those who do have access to ECD programs, 57% of them do not meet the expected learning standards for their age, indicating a significant gap in quality early education.
In response to these challenges, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his State of the Nation Address a commitment to register and formalize existing ECD centers, ensuring they have the necessary resources and training to provide quality early learning experiences.
While government initiatives such as the 2030 Strategy for ECD Programs and the Bana Pele mass registration drive aim to increase access to ECD services, the lack of adequate funding remains a major obstacle. Currently, less than 0.2% of government expenditure is allocated to early learning and nutritional support for children aged 0-5, with minimal increases in funding over the years.
One critical issue is the frozen ECD subsidy, which has remained at R17 per child per day since 2019, leading to a decline in its real value. This freeze has had detrimental effects on ECD programs, limiting their ability to provide quality meals, upgrade facilities, and pay staff fair wages. Restoring the subsidy to its 2019 purchasing power of R23 per child per day is essential, along with a commitment to increase it to R46 by 2030.
The Real Reform for ECD movement is calling on National Treasury to take immediate action by:
- Restoring the value of the ECD subsidy to R23 per child per day and committing to increase it to R46 by 2030.
- Providing subsidised access to ECD programs for an additional one million children by 2027.
- Doubling funding for ECD infrastructure and registration support to R300 million in 2025/26.
Investing in ECD services is crucial for addressing unemployment, poverty, and inequality, while also laying a foundation for improved educational outcomes and inclusive economic growth. By implementing the 2030 Strategy for ECD Programs, the government can create new care and early learning enterprises, generate job opportunities, and reduce childcare burdens for millions of women.
It is evident that investing in ECD is not just about providing early education but building a more just and equitable society for all.
Statement Issued by Real Reform for ECD
Real Reform for ECD (RR4ECD) is a coalition advocating for well-funded and inclusive ECD services in South Africa. With the support of over 200 organizations and 600 practitioners, RR4ECD is committed to ensuring quality early childhood development for all children. For more information, visit their website:https://www.ecdreform.org.za/
