South African president leads conference on early childhood development
Conference plans to achieve universal access to early learning opportunities for all children in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (MNTV) — President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the opening address at the Bana Pele Early Childhood Development (ECD) Leadership Summit in Johannesburg, reports SABC news.
The conference brought together government officials, business leaders, and education experts to construct a roadmap for universal access to quality ECD across South Africa.
The summit, a significant gathering focused on the critical importance of early childhood education, was jointly convened by the Department of Basic Education and Business Leadership South Africa. This collaborative effort underscores the shared commitment of both the public and private sectors to improving the lives of young children.
The primary aim of the summit was to galvanize a robust public and private sector coalition for an important social cause. This coalition will be tasked with supporting the Department of Basic Education’s ambitious 2030 ECD Roadmap.
This roadmap outlines a strategic plan to achieve quality and universal access to early learning opportunities for all children in South Africa. The need for such a comprehensive plan is highlighted by the concerning statistics that currently, over 1.3 million children across the nation are not enrolled in any form of early childhood development (ECD) programme.
This lack of access to early learning experiences has severe consequences. These children are left without the foundational literacy and numeracy skills that are absolutely essential for success in their subsequent schooling. The absence of these fundamental skills significantly hinders their academic progress and has a long-term impact, as it often forces them to avoid taking on critical subjects such as Mathematics and Science in their later years of education.
The conference highlighted the critical importance of holistic development and nurturing during the earliest phase of human socialization, which casts its effect lifelong throughout society.
Addressing the conference, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the shared belief in “putting children first.” He said, “It is because of this shared vision that we unite and collaborate today, committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive by the age of five.”
The president highlighted the importance of early childhood support through education, adding that this is “one of the most powerful levers we have to unlock the potential of our nation.”
He further said that investing in ECD was not just about education, but about “shaping the next generation of skilled, capable and entrepreneurial citizens who will drive our economy forward.”
Ramaphosa went on to explain how early childhood development provides children with the foundational skills for building a successful future, enabling them to “break the cycle of poverty that is handed down from one generation to the next.”
He concluded the opening speech with the recognition that early childhood development was about “giving children from all backgrounds the opportunity to grow into confident, capable citizens who contribute positively to society.”
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