Department trains ECD practitioners to 'rescue' foundation-phase learning
It said this is part of efforts to strengthen foundational learning across the country.
Responding to a parliamentary question from MP Delmaine Chelsey Christians, the department revealed it has significantly scaled up training since the ECD function shift from the department of social development to basic education in April 2022.
In addition to the 2,670 practitioners trained in 2024/2025, the department said:
20,027 were trained in 2023/24;
11,681 in 2022/23;
930 in 2021/22;
1,752 in 2020/21; and
14,008 in 2019/20.
Regarding qualifications aligned to the national qualifications framework (NQF) level 4, the department reported training:
2,374 practitioners this year;
3,140 trained in 2023/24;
1,345 in 2022/23;
3,239 in 2021/22; and
4,905 in 2019/20.
The 2020/21 year saw no training due to Covid-related disruptions.
'Since the ECD function shift in April 2022, the department of basic education and provincial education departments have prioritised the professional development of ECD practitioners to improve the quality of foundational learning,' it said.
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