KZN Pledges R21.6m Toward Childhood Development

from All Africa

BuaNews (Tshwane)

By Michael Appel
Durban

An amount of R21.6 million has been set aside by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government for Early Childhood Development (ECD) in 2008, increasing it to R97 million in 2010 said KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele, Sunday.

Speaking on International Children's Day, the premier highlighted the need for strong focus to fall on ECD as indicated by The Growth Report released by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and the Commission on Growth and Development.

"On the issue of education and skills development the report found that equality of opportunity and gender inclusiveness was necessary to bring the benefits of globalisation to those not yet actively participating in the economy.

"It found that, for instance, adequate nutrition among infants and children is crucial to the equalisation of opportunity, allowing children to benefit appropriately from educational systems and to then bring this capacity to the workplace," said the premier.

During 2008, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is to advance training in the ECD phase for children who fall in the age category 0 to four years, and 333 ECD educators will be trained this year.

"Our government's ECD programme aims to ensure that the care of infants and children is paramount and we thus aim to equalise the subsidy at a minimum of R9 per child per day in each province.

"Nationally, we hope to subsidise 600 000 children in the current financial year. In the long-term this will provide the foundation to lift our children out of poverty," he said.

A phenomenon brought about by the increasing prevalence of HIV and AIDS among young adults is the emergence of child-headed households.

Children are taking charge of households now from as young as 12 years old, said the premier, adding this sort of situation surely required governments intervention.

"We have a duty to these children. As society changes, we, as government, have adapted our policies to change your lives for the better.

"This morning, we visited two homes which are headed by children. These are orphans. They are not even able to experience adolescence, but are plunged into adulthood with many responsibilities, including parenting.