“ECD is the fundamental education which prepares children from birth to age nine with a solid foundation for future learning by developing them physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially,” explains Masennya Dikotla, the CEO of the Molteno Institute for Language and Literacy.
This particular course focuses on acquiring knowledge and skills to work with children from birth to age five in Pre-Grade R. Available in all South Africa’s official languages, the course builds on the prior knowledge of practitioners.
This qualification enables one to facilitate the all-round development of young children in a manner that is sensitive to culture and individual needs (including special needs) and enables one to provide quality early childhood development services for children in a variety of contexts, including community-based services, ECD centres, at home and in educational contexts.
The course outline on this early childhood development qualification includes modules on the following: Introduction to the early childhood development sector, theories and perspectives of childhood development, planning and programme development in early childhood settings, facilitation and mediation of active learning as well as observation and assessment in early childhood development.
“A key aspect of the course is learning through play,” explains Masennya. “Playing is critical to a child’s healthy development and learning. Over the years, Molteno has focused mainly on promoting literacy among children in Grades 1 to 3, but we made the decision to run this course because research has shown that children – especially those living in rural areas – who don’t attend preschool are put at a huge disadvantage when they reach Grade 1 and as they transition to higher grades.”
The course will be led by experienced Molteno trainers and take place at the Funda Community College in Soweto, Gauteng. However, if practitioners can’t travel to the college, tutorials can be arranged in their provinces.
Upon completing their studies, participants will receive an Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development NQF Level 4 SAQA ID 97542. They will be qualified to teach children in Pre-Grade R and will receive 131 credits, which enable them to register for an ECD diploma.
Registrations for this course are now open and close on 31 January 2019. For more information or to register, visit: www.molteno.co.za.
