It is proven that children who encounter good nutrition
and stimulation in the early years are less likely to
suffer from illness, struggle adapting to the school
environment, repeat grades, drop out of school or
need remedial and special attention.
Early Childhood Education in the Eastern Cape has
recently been targeted as a priority sector. There are
4.4 million babies and young children in South Africa
and according to the Education White Paper 5 on
Early Childhood Development (2001:2), about 40% of
the young children in South Africa are exposed to
harsh living conditions, neglect and a lack of
stimulation. As a result when children enter formal
schooling in Grade 1 the foundational concepts of
learning are not developed, causing children to drop
out of school and in many cases repeat grades.
The impact of a stimulating environment directly
affects the growth of the young child’s brain in a
significant way. It is important that parents, educators
and care-givers should be equipped and educated
regarding their children’s cognitive development. The
brain is an extremely complex and comprehensive
part of the human body.
Brain cells are formed within the first three weeks
after conception, and play an indispensable role in the
development of the child, with between 100 and 200
billion neurons or underdeveloped nerve cells. The
brain is made up of many parts which all play a
different, yet vital role in the day-to-day functioning of
a human being.
If sufficient cognitive development and nutritional
enrichment is not provided during the early years, a
gap in the child’s knowledge and ability to cope with
life takes root. A detrimental result of a lack of
stimulation is when the neuronal pathways wither and
die. This has devastating effects on young children,
as they may not be able to achieve further
development and growth.
According to Education White Paper 5 on Early
Childhood Development (2001:2), ‘approximately
40% of young children in South Africa grow up in
conditions of abject poverty and neglect… which are
most at risk of infant death, low-birth weight, stunted
growth, poor adjustment to school, increased grade
repetition and school dropout.’ Unless the lifestyles
of South Africa’s neglected, under stimulated and
malnourished children are rectified, they are at risk
of irreversible brain damage and stunted physical
growth.
Under-age and under-prepared learners, who have
proven to be the most at risk in terms of school
failure and drop out, will certainly be minimized
through the process of providing thorough early
intervention and stimulation, as well as the laying of
foundational concepts before children enter formal
schooling (2001:4).According to the Millennium
Development Goals for South Africa, by 2015,
‘children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be
able to complete a full course of primary schooling.’
Primary schooling includes Grades 1 – 7, and refers
to children between the ages of 7 and 13 years.
According to a study done by United Nations
Statistics Division (February 2007), in 1999 merely
64.8% of children that started formal schooling in
Grade 1 managed to remain in the system until
Grade 5. By 2001 this percentage had risen to 86%
of children remaining in school from Grade 1 to
Grade 5. In 2004 statistics had dropped to 84.1% of
children that began formal school in Grade 1
remained in the school system until Grade 5.
Although an increase in literacy, numeracy and
life-skills abilities has been noted in South Africa
over the past decade, a focus on early intervention
has increased and decisions have been made to
equip learners from a younger age – laying
foundational concepts and ensuring ‘formal’ school
readiness. Grade R plays an imperative role in early
childhood development. One of the key aspects of
this Millennium Goal is to improve access of 5 year
old children to Grade R.
This new-found importance that is being placed on
Early Childhood Development and intervention in
South Africa is fundamental in building a foundation
for a better South Africa.
SEE BELOW A NUMBER OF ARTICLES
ON THIS TOPIC AVAILABLE FOR
DOWNLOAD:
Education White Paper 5 on ECD:
National Development Plan:
Effective Practitioner Training:
