On 20 November, Early Childhood Development (ECD) activists, practitioners, and advocates will convene at the Department of Basic Education's (DBE) Head Office in Pretoria for a significant ECD Sit-In. This date, marked globally as Universal Children’s Day, underscores the essential rights of children as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The gathering will urge Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, to prioritise ECD as a political and social necessity.

Real Reform for ECD: Advocating for Urgent Change

The ECD Sit-In, organised by Real Reform for ECD (RR4ECD), is rooted in the People’s Manifesto for ECD, which was co-created by ECD sector advocates ahead of the 2024 general elections. This event builds on momentum from April 2024, when over 600 advocates marched to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, demanding political recognition of ECD’s vital role in shaping South Africa's future. 

Despite government commitments to universal access to ECD by 2030, the current landscape is marked by underfunding and inadequate planning. The R17 per child per day subsidy, frozen since 2019, only benefits one in seven poor children. Additionally, there has been no progress on launching a national ECD nutrition pilot, even though R197 million has been allocated for this purpose.

The ECD Crisis: Critical Statistics

• 70% of children in South Africa live in very poor households.
• One in four children under five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition.
• 57% of children attending ECD programmes are not on track for cognitive and/or physical development.
• 1.3 million three to five-year-olds from poor households are not accessing ECD programmes.
• 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning.

“Our young children are in crisis, and the people who care for them daily are not being supported,” says Real Reform for ECD.

Primary Demands of the Sit-In

This advocacy event focuses on three urgent priorities:

1. #TableTheBill: Table the Children’s Amendment Bill (2023) in Parliament by the end of 2024 and pass it by the end of 2025. This legislation addresses crucial structural and financial gaps in ECD.
2. #SpendTheMoney: Implement a national ECD nutrition pilot programme before the end of the 2024/25 financial year, using the allocated R197 million.
3. #UpTheSubsidy: Increase the ECD subsidy from R17 to its 2019 purchasing power of R23 per child per day, with a commitment to further raising it to R46 by 2030.

Why This Matters

ECD remains vastly underfunded in South Africa, undermining the rights of the youngest citizens and impacting the nation’s future. The People’s Manifesto for ECD lays out a comprehensive plan to address key aspects like health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety, and early learning. However, without immediate government intervention and funding, these essential needs will continue to go unmet.

ECD Sit-In Details

• Date and Time: 20 November 2024, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Location: Department of Basic Education Head Offices, Pretoria

Call to Action

Real Reform for ECD invites ECD practitioners, parents, community partners, and supporters to join the sit-in and add their voices to the call for change. Those who cannot attend can support by sharing the People’s Manifesto for ECD, signing the petition, or amplifying the message on social media using #SpendTheMoney, #TableTheBill, and #UpTheSubsidy.

About Real Reform for ECD

Real Reform for ECD is a movement dedicated to advocating for holistic, well-funded, and inclusive early childhood development services. The organisation aims to ensure a supportive legal, policy, and regulatory framework that promotes the provision and expansion of ECD services in South Africa.

For more information, visit www.ecdreform.org.za.

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Press Release Submitted By

Organisation: Real Reform for ECD
Website: www.ecdreform.org.za

Total Words: 621

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Join the ECD Sit-In on Universal Children’s Day!
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