The NDP 2030 states that ‘’Early Childhood Development is critical for children to reach their full potential. Its further state that the benefits of intervening early in the lives of children include better school enrolment rates, retention and academic performance, high rates of high school completion; lower levels of antisocial behaviour; high earnings and better adult health and longevity’’.
This in basic terms means that Early Childhood Development Programmes is instrumental in the process of improving the quality of education and shaping a brighter future of children and the country. Early Childhood Development is the foundation for learning as it shapes the brain development of a young child, influence cognitive skills, language acquisition, social and emotional growth. It also promotes essential social skills, collaboration, sharing and communication.
Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG) as an institute provides support to Early Childhood Development practitioners in Grade R in the public ordinary school system (POS) and Community based sites in the Gauteng Province to ensure that the quality of foundational education improves and also to contribute to the achievement of the National Development Plan goals.
Furthermore, Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG) applies all efforts and approaches/methods that are available to ensure that our stakeholders within the education sector are capacitated and equipped with knowledge and skills that are required for them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.
Responding to the Government’s call, for a need to improve and strengthen the foundation of education in South Africa, the MGSLG continues to enrol and train ECD practitioners throughout the Gauteng Province. Currently MGSLG is training 500 ECD Practitioners in various central district venues across the Gauteng Province in the ECD NQF Level 4 FET Certificate programme.
Currently we are offering cohort 08 the NQF Level 4 programme which commenced in June 2024. This programme will run until November 2025. All registered students are expected to complete their course in November 2025. All practitioners returned to class on the 04 February 2025 on their journey to complete the programme successfully. The programme is designed for ECD practitioners in employment at a registered ECD site and runs for a period of 17-18-months. On completion of the programme, successful ECD Practitioners will be awarded FET Certificate in ECD NQF Level 4 with 141 credits.
Modules that are covered in this programme:
Module 1: Introduction to ECD
- This module consists out of the 4, communication unit standards that are part of the second language component of the qualification.
- This module can therefore also serve as a bridging programme for learners that are struggling with regards to their language ability.
Module 2: Understand ECD
Module 3: Plan and prepare for ECD
Module 4: Facilitate and monitor the development of ECD
Module 5: Provide care and support
Module 6: Manage an ECD service
Furthermore, it covers:
1. Child Development, which is about understanding the physical, emotional, social and cognitive development of children from birth to age 7.
2. Heath, Safety, and Nutrition which is about promoting the wellbeing of children through proper health practices, safety measures and nutritional guidance.
3. Learning and Teaching Strategies, where ECD practitioners are exploring various pedagogical approaches and techniques for effective teaching in early childhood environment.
In closing Early Childhood should not only be viewed as a foundation in education, but a foundation for the entire life of a child.