President Ramaphosa calls for accelerated ECD reform

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for accelerated reforms in early childhood development (ECD), urging government, businesses and communities to work together to ensure every child in South Africa has access to quality early learning by 2030.

President Ramaphosa said early learning was no longer simply about providing childcare but about equipping children with the literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for formal schooling and future employment.

The President acknowledged that South Africa had started late in establishing a formalised early childhood development system but said implementation should not be slow.

The transfer of early childhood development from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education in 2022 was a critical step in this development.

Building strong foundations