Investing in ECD helps to reduce social and economic inequality
Research undertaken by the FirstRand Foundation indicates that investing in early childhood development (ECD) helps to reduce social and economic inequality by equalising education outcomes and post-school employment opportunities for all children, irrespective of race or social class. And the earlier in a child's life the investments are made, the greater the likelihood of attaining these outcomes.
The research was done in line with the Foundation's commitment to document and share good practice in the CSI space. The paper about the findings of the desktop research review entitled Laying the Foundation for Success: Lessons learnt from CSI-funded ECD programmes in South Africa, was shared at the Foundation's fifth CSI That Works breakfast on 24 October 2014.
The private sector in South Africa, as well as government and non-governmental organisations, are working on a vast range of initiatives to combat the challenges to social and economic development presented by inequality, unemployment and poverty.
Making it possible to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty
By definition, ECD refers to the provision of holistic policies and programmes for the physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and moral development of children from conception to the age of nine with the active participation of their parents and caregivers. Children from disadvantaged families stand to benefit the most from the provision of high-quality ECD services, making it possible to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Neuroscience research has indicated that the first 1,000 days after conception are critical for brain development, which continues rapidly until a child reaches the age of two. This is a critical period in the growth and development of a child that requires adequate provision of nutrition, health care, cognitive stimulation and supportive parenting. Early provision of ECD services also helps to screen children for learning difficulties and social, behavioural and health problems.
The South African government has reiterated its commitment to implement social development programmes sensitive to the needs of children. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also made significant contributions in the ECD sector with support from both international and local corporate donors.
Achievements through various interventions include significant improvement in the provision of healthcare for women and children, more women accessing antenatal care (97%), more women giving birth at health care facilities (91%), more births registered (83%) and more children fully immunized (89%) than a decade ago.
Although there has been progress in the ECD sector, much more needs to be done with some areas still lagging behind.
Figures show, for example, that more than 50% of South African children live in poverty with inadequate access to health care, nutrition, education and social services. In addition, access to ECD services remains far below national targets with only 35% of children younger than four enrolled in an ECD centre and 52% of three and four-year old children accessing ECD services outside the home. Access for children with disabilities is also severely limited, with only 1% enrolled in an ECD centre.
Parents have the primary responsibility to nurture, protect and support child growth, but government has the social responsibility to assist families who are unable to meet their basic needs through social grants and other social welfare strategies. Social grants make a contribution to basic household needs and represent a vital and direct poverty alleviation programme for South African children.
Although ECD services are focused on the needs of children, the family and community also require support to enable them to complement centre-based or community outreach services, such as parenting programmes. These programmes teach families the skills they need to manage social challenges and prevent problems caused by malnutrition and drug and alcohol abuse by pregnant mothers. Government must prioritise parenting programmes and include them in the government policy instruments on ECD to ensure their sustainability.
The research findings and case studies used in the research indicates several lessons learnt and recommends that CSI donors support ECD interventions by supporting home-based ECD models which focus on holistic development for children from birth, infrastructure development and maternal and child nutrition programmes and promoting ECD practitioner training with coaching and mentorship programmes, ECD provisioning models that leverage partnerships and promoting research across the ECD spectrum.
