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Early Childhood Development

R21.6m set for KZN child education

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:00

By Siboniso Ntuli

The KwaZulu-Natal government has set aside R21.6 million for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme for 2008 for children throughout the province.

Delivering his State of the Province Address, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele said in 2008 the provincial Department of Education is to advance training in the ECD phase for children, who fall in the age category of zero to four years.

“To address this high priority programme 333 ECD educators and care-givers shall be employed in 2008,” said Premier Ndebele.

Currently the province has increased the number of Grade R classes by 600 to cater for a further 18 000 learners.

In 2010, Mr Ndebele said the province would increase the amount for ECD to R97 million.

The provincial government has also approved a Senior Certificate Learner Attainment Improvement Plan for 2008.

Premier Ndebele committed himself to concentrate on the successful implementation of the National Curriculum Statement.

“The province will focus more strongly on the schools that obtain a pass rate of 50 percent or less in the last year Senior Certificate Exam or National Senior Certificate for two consecutive years as these schools will be categorised as a Special Measures Schools,” said the Premier Ndebele

The Department of Education, he said will also maintain its crucial role in providing infrastructure to learners providing a safe and stimulating learning environment.

Since 2004 the backlog of 14 667 classrooms has been reduced by a total of 3 830 classrooms to 9 300 in 2008 respectively.

Similarly, a total of more than 9 440 toilets have been built since 2004, and schools without adequate sanitation facilities reduced from 1 300 to 690.

- BuaNews