Paradigm Shift: Why we need to see early learning centres as social enterprises that deliver triple impactWhen I started a social enterprise to help women run five-star early childhood development centres in lower-income communities, I couldn't imagine how complex the business of early learning really is. A decade later, I have paid my school fees. After working with thousands of early childhood development centres to help them move towards financial sustainability and improved, consistent learner development results, I have deep insight into what it will take to shift this sector into a thriving social enterprise sector. Once we start looking at early learning centres as social enterprises, we can unlock a triple-layered impact for our country and its youngest generation: small business development (for school owners), employment opportunities (predominantly for women in jobs like teachers, assistant teachers, carers, cooks and cleaners), and improved education (for all children). In South Africa, 1.6 million children (72%) under six years old are enrolled to attend an Early Learning Programme meant to prepare them for school. Concerningly, this figure was closer to 2 million before the Covid19 pandemic. We know that quality early childhood education provides persistent, lifelong benefits to the child and society even after the child has left preschool. That is why these early years are so crucial – they set up a child with higher odds for success at school and later in life. What is good for the country's children is also good for the country's economy and society. The government has an ambitious vision: All children in South Africa should have access to opportunities for learning through standardised quality Early Learning Programmes (ELPs), good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, and responsive caregiving. The plan is to provide universal access to quality early learning and care in spaces that are safe and compliant. ELPs should also implement the national curriculum framework (NCF), be appropriately resourced to deliver play-based education, and have trained staff. Yet, a recent media statement reveals that 1.3 million children aged between three and five are not attending any form of early learning. A total of 66% of the poorest children (Q1) are not in Early Learning Programmes compared to 36% of the wealthiest. And, worst, only 45% of children accessing early learning are developmentally on track. ECD needs a paradigm shift and practical solutionsThe gap between where we are and where we want to be is massive. Government can play a significant role but cannot bridge this gap on its own. ECD Centres are still primarily private small businesses, often registered as NPOs to access potential subsidy funding*. In many cases, these small businesses are relatively informal and run by owner-operators who have a heart for children but lack a head for business. Unlike primary or high schools, the Department of Education will never have the budget to operate, maintain and pay the salaries of the 200,000 people currently employed in this sector, not to mention the additional centres and staff required to live up to the mandated 'access for all'. We need to leverage the numerous passionate and prominent ECD organisations already operating across the country to ensure impact at scale. Every child deserves five-star quality early education, and they need affordable access to this level of quality if we want to break the cycle of inequality. 'Okay' education is not good enough. Our country’s obsession with matric results means we neglect early learning results. We must prioritise early childhood development as a crucial component of the education system. Where are we currently? A bird’s eye view of the early learning sectorThe latest ECD Census (2021) reveals that South Africa has 42,420 Early Learning Programmes (ELPs), 60% are urban and 40% are rural. These centres care for 1,6 million children and employ 198,361 staff members. 40% of these ELPs are fully or conditionally registered, 16% are in the process of registering and 42% of programmes are not registered. 33% receive a subsidy (only registered centres may apply for the subsidy). Only 52% of teaching staff have a relevant ECD qualification, an alarming 22% have no teaching qualification at all, and 26% have attended a skills training programme. The average ECD centre would have 39 learners and charge R509 per month. 34% do not have an outdoor play area with suitable equipment. 44% do not have access to age-appropriate books. 50% do not have materials for counting, and 63% do not have instruments for rhythm. It is not surprising that so few children (only 45%) are ‘on track’. What lies ahead for ECD?On 1 April 2022, the ECD function moved from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education. The controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill aims to make a host of changes to schools in South Africa, many of which are controversial. The one proposal, which is being met with broad support, is the proposed change to make Grade R the mandatory new school starting age, as opposed to Grade 1. While this sounds good on paper, we must realise that inclusion doesn't guarantee quality. What we can do now to move towards accessible, quality early learningTo make quality early learning accessible and affordable for all South African children, we need numerous interventions. Some may take generations to implement; however, some interventions are implementable within the next 24 months and have the potential to support a fundamental paradigm shift.
Final thoughtsThe ECD sector has the opportunity to create thousands of new jobs if quality ECD is accessible to all. If we empower social entrepreneurs to grow their businesses we will see a triple impact – small business development, job creation (especially for women) and improved education outcomes. About Grow ECDTracey Chambers is the CEO and co-founder of Grow ECD, an internationally recognised non-profit organisation that equips and connects ECD businesses with the support and tools they need to provide five-star early learning, while also being financially sustainable. Started in 2014, the organisation now works with over 5,600 ECD centres and 22 ECD organisations across the country that make use of the free Grow ECD technology platform, resources and tools. Over 5,000 children benefit from their Quality Education Programme daily, which is made available to teachers through a digital, data-free multimedia mobile app. Grow ECD also host an ECD Small Business Accelerator programme to teach preschool owners how to run their schools sustainably. *The DBE announces in early 2023 that ECD centres no longer need to be registered as non-profit organisations in order to apply for the subsidy. Reference: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-30-early-childhood-development-programmes-no-longer-require-nonprofit-registration-to-access-state-subsidy/ About the authorTracey Chambers is CEO of Social Enterprise, Grow ECD |