18/10/2021
This campaign is close to the heart!
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is vital to a thriving and prosperous society.
Invisible Sun worked with Real Reform for ECD earlier this year and continues to be a supporter of the amazing work they are collectively achieving.
Add your name to the open letter to 'Make Local Governments Work for (ECD) and follow the RR4ECD campaign.
**Open letter to all councillors running for election in the local government elections**
The Real Reform for ECD Campaign will be publishing an Open Letter addressed to all councillors next week. Add your name or your organisation’s name to this open letter by 18 October 2021. Click on this link to sign on to the Open Letter:
https://forms.gle/3KHAq3j5haYF6XxK8
Dear Prospective Councillors
Real Reform for Early Childhood Development (ECD) has launched a campaign: “Make Local Government Work for ECD”
The local government elections are an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of young children. Real Reform for ECD has launched a campaign to urgently ensure that the needs of young children, their caregivers and ECD teachers and practitioners are taken seriously.
ECD, “early childhood development”, refers to the period of childhood where significant emotional, physical and cognitive development takes place. It is the most critical developmental stage in a person’s life, it is the foundation not only of individual development but also the human resource development of our nation. It should include supportive services that include access to adequate nutrition, maternal and child health care services, caregiver support, social protection and early learning opportunities. We cannot say we are investing in the future of our nation when families do not have access to affordable, quality early learning programmes for their children.
Yet most children in South Africa do not have access to any form of early learning opportunities through an ECD programme (including ECD centres/ pre-schools/creches, play groups and toy libraries). Of those who do access some form of ECD programme, two thirds are in unregistered programmes (which means unregulated) and only a small proportion of children who need it (25%) obtain a subsidy supported by the Department of Social Development.
The rules and regulations governing registration of ECD programmes at the local level are unrealistic, onerous and unaffordable.
All the published party manifestos are completely silent on ECD and services for young children, let alone how to eradicate the barriers to registration. They are also silent on how to advance access to ECD programmes. This silence totally ignores the importance of ensuring our youngest, most vulnerable citizens get the start in life they deserve and need if we are to become a winning nation. That is why over [INSERT after circulation to supporters] are now supporting a new campaign calling for Real Reform at the local government level for the ECD sector.
The Campaign calls on you to:
>>Pull down the barriers to registration for ECD programmes:
• Simplify health and safety standards to make it easier for ECD programmes to register
• Municipal EHP’s should issue timely health inspection reports to DSD for all ECD programmes regardless of whether or not they meet Health Certificate or Bylaw standards
• Provide municipal fee waivers for all ECD programmes
• Accept simplified, attainable and affordable land use options
• Accept a hand-drawn site plan and floor plan instead of building plans
• Implement rapid procedures to address delays
>>Build new and upgrade existing ECD programmes
• In line with the ECD Policy, upgrade existing and build new facilities for ECD programmes in order for existing programmes to grow and new programmes to open
• Provide basic services (electricity, water & sanitation) to ECD programmes free of charge
>>Make ECD a local spending priority
• Include ECD in local planning (IDPs) and budgets, setting clear targets and allocating funding for new builds and upgrades in poor communities.
‼️ We need local governments to deliver on its promises to local families, we need more families benefiting from more children attending ECD programmes and we need more ECD programmes registering and accessing government subsidies.
📢 We are calling on all prospective councillors to support the Campaign to Make Local Government Work for ECD by doing the following:
1. Sign your name on to this letter to illustrate your support
2. Make a public commitment to implement the Real Reforms for ECD
3. Contact Real Reform once elected and we will provide assistance with how to make your local government work for ECD
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Letter issued by the Real Reform for ECD Campaign
Add your name or your organisation’s name to this open letter by 18 October 2021. Click on this link to sign on to the Open Letter:
https://forms.gle/3KHAq3j5haYF6XxK8
