As the country's 2020 academic year kicked off last week, hundreds of children in the ZFM Upington area to be specific benefitted from the Early Childhood Development Centre following a partnership between the department of Social Development and the National Lotteries Commission.
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, handed-over 10 ECD Centres in Upington, Chapter 9 of the National Development Plan (Vision 2030) acknowledges the importance of education in dealing with poverty and inequality in South Africa. In fulfilling the goals of the NDP, South Africa is making serious investments in its future, with specific focus on improving ECDs.
ECD was declared a public good thus prioritising its expunction to all children as part of Government's first 1000 Days Campaign. Last year President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address that Early Childhood Development Centres will move from the department of Social Development to the department of Basic Education and the two departments have been working together towards the realisation of the change in responsibilities.
In her input, Mrs Bogopane-Zulu alluded to the fact that, in 2020, the Department of Social Development will still continue with the registration, provision and the administration of the ECD subsidy and encouraged to register their children for ECD.
The ECD Centre which were handed over by the Deputy Minister, were sponsored by the National Lotteries Commission, as part of their Legacy Project, which to date has benefited a total of 203 organisations.
It is to mentioned that, not even an accident that occurred over the festive period could stop the Deputy Minister from over-seeing the handing over of these ECD Centres.
The DM fell from the stairs in her house and broke both legs, one of which broke in four places. As a department we are inspired by the resilience and courage shown by the DM, and furthermore wish her a speedy recovery, may God continue to bless her.
-By Tebogo Mokae
