Social Development Department Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Social Development MEC Siphokazi Lusithi and Department of Education MEC Fundile Gade will lead a stakeholder engagement summit towards the transfer of the Early Childhood Development functions from Department of Social Development to the Department of Education.

The stakeholder engagement summit is scheduled for Thursday, 11 November at the Mandla Makupula Leadership Institute, East London.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his February 2019 State of the Nation Address that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will have technical oversight over the early childhood development (ECD) sector. Both Departments have drafted two Proclamations.

The first Proclamation is signed by the President, while the second Proclamation is signed by the Premiers for the transfer of power and functions to the MEC responsible for Basic Education in each Province.

The proclamations further specify that the date of the implementation of the ECD function shift will be 1 April 2022.

The move will allow for a standardised ECD function to ensure structured learning in the sector, including a managed curriculum. This means that the ECD curriculum will also be aligned to the CAPS curriculum.

The Eastern Cape Department of Education and the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development have embraced the requirements to transfer the ECD function and have embarked on a joint implementation initiative.

Members of the Media are invited as follows:

Date:                    11 November 2021
Time:                     09H00 – 10H00 (Media Briefing)
10H00 – 13H30 (Summit)
Venue:                  Mandla Makupula Leadership Institute

For more information, please contact Mzukisi Solani – 082 375 7219 or Malibongwe Mtima – 084 230 1976.