Early Childhood Development in South Africa: Inequality and Opportunity

2019 ◽  
pp. 87-108
Author(s):  
Michaela Ashley-Cooper ◽  
Lauren-Jayne van Niekerk ◽  
Eric Atmore
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Childhood Development

scholarly journals Problems and Prospects in Early Childhood Education Provisioning in Turkey and South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-457
Author(s):  
Corinne Meier ◽  
Eleanor Lemmer ◽  
Demet Gören Niron
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The United States ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Us ◽  
Made In

The benefits of early childhood development (ECD) programmes are strongly supported by evidence of reduced school dropout and repetition rates. However, the literature on ECD is primarily grounded in research based in the United States (US); in the light of this gap in the literature, this paper provides a comparative overview of ECD policy and practice from outside of the US, namely in South Africa and Turkey. As a theoretical framework the paper has followed the World Bank’s Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER)-ECD Analytical Framework. Findings indicate that both countries have established an enabling policy environment for ECD but implementation and the setting of and compliance to standards for quality is still emerging, in spite of massive strides made in this field during the past fifteen years.

scholarly journals Informal community-based early childhood development as a focus for urban public theology in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Van der Walt ◽  
Ignatius Swart ◽  
Stephan De Beer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Informal Community

This article highlights important dimensions of public theology and shows how the identified dimensions are relevant to the specific situation of informal early childhood development (ECD) facilities in a South African urban setting. The article considers the contributions and challenges of informal community-based ECD on the basis of research conducted in the Rustenburg/Phokeng area of the North West province of South Africa. It critically discusses the sociocultural discourses and legislation regulating ECD centres, by focusing on the constraints put on informal ECD service providers. It concludes by considering ways in which urban public theology should act to serve, strengthen and advocate this vitally important, yet informal, sector.

Leadership and Stakeholder Involvement in Creating a Non-Violent Early Childhood Development (ECD) School Environment in South Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 233-251
Author(s):  
Matshediso Rebecca Modise
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Free Environment

This chapter seeks to consider strategies and means that early childhood development (ECD) leadership in South Africa can use to create a non-violent environment at ECD centers and in the foundation phase in primary schools. In South Africa, ECD is defined as a term indicating the procedures under which children from birth to nine years of age grow and flourish emotionally, morally, socially, physically, and spiritually. The chapter focuses on Pre-Grade 1 to Grade 3 environments. It also addresses the roles that relevant stakeholders can play in support of school leadership in the creation of a violent-free environment. The research is guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Since early childhood is a sensitive and impressionable stage in children's lives, a living, supportive atmosphere as well as an enabling social setting is essential to ensure their complete development. This requires the involvement of all stakeholders (school governing bodies), especially members of the schools' leadership teams in considering policy.

scholarly journals Employing a multifocal view of ECD curriculum development at a rural settlement community in South Africa: Themes from a ‘design by implementation’ early childhood education programme

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Brink
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Rural Settlement ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Education Development ◽  
Holistic View

<p>Early childhood curriculum development is challenged by the vast contextual variability of sites in South Africa. In this article, the author reports on the implementation of an early childhood development programme at an informal rural settlement community by an external societal agent. The article looks at the complex dynamics at play within such an early education development situation and examines the main themes that emerged from the process. Referring to the tensions that emanated from the implementation of this programme as a positive driver for change, it concludes that the employment of participatory methodologies could be utilised as a curriculum development tool and calls for the employment of a less formulaic and more holistic view of early childhood development.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Participatory action research; rural community development; curriculum development</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document