In January 2024, the Minister of Basic Education announced a new mass registration drive for ECD programmes.  This means that the government will support registration of ECD programmes by using a simpler and user-friendly online registration system. The goal is to pull every ECD programme into the regulatory net, and to support ECD programmes in all communities to comply with legal requirements, by recognising the different contexts in which they operate. The new Mass Registration process will be implemented in a phased approach to ensure complete testing of the new enabling tools in the pilot sites in Gauteng. The pilot will shape

We are thrilled to announce the successful culmination of the South African National Conference on Play-Based Learning, held at the prestigious Indaba Hotel in Fourways from February 21 to February 22, 2024. Under the theme of “Early Learning and Development: Foundations for the Future through Partnerships on Play, Parents, Practice, and Policy,” the conference brought together esteemed professionals, educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in the early childhood development (ECD) sector. Hosted by a consortium of leading organizations, including the Department of Basic Education, UNICEF, Cotlands, the LEGO Foundation, Sesame Workshop South Africa, and HOPE worldwide South Africa, the event aimed to promote the

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently launched South Africa’s 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programmes, providing the much-needed guidance for the sector since the migration of ECD from the Department of Social Development to the DBE. This landmark initiative marks a significant milestone in the ECD sector’s collective efforts to ensure the holistic development and well-being of young children across the nation. The purpose of the 2030 Strategy for ECD Programmes is to provide a comprehensive roadmap towards achieving ambitious goals, including universal access to quality early childhood development by 2030, encompassing two years of quality preschool education. Furthermore,