early childhood development

BOSA Slams Corporate PR for Failing SA Education

Build One South Africa has criticised corporate Public Relations campaigns that do little to fix South Africa’s education crisis. Leader Mmusi Maimane called on businesses to invest in long-term solutions like Early Childhood Development centres instead of branded donations. With over three-million learners lacking desks and 81-percent of children unable to read for meaning by age 10, BOSA's Roger Solomons demands sustainable corporate investment in education:

February 28, 2025 25

Local

Nedbank Employee Initiative Gives Back to Vulnerable Communities

Through a Nedbank employee initiative called the Nedbank Team Challenge, a team of the bank’s employees contributed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable Namibian children, through a partnership with Amos Meerkat—a project under the Namibia Life Change Centres Foundation (NLCCF). The Nedbank Team Challenge is a staff initiative that empowers Nedbank employees to make a tangible difference in their communities. Open to teams of 8 […]

February 3, 2025 28

South Africa

DA Backs Education Department’s Plan to Address Literacy

In S.A, the DA supports the Department of Basic Education’s proposed interventions after studies revealed declines in literacy and numeracy skills. The reports show that many Grade 6 learners are unable to meet basic reading and math standards. The DA welcomes efforts to improve early childhood development and promote mother-tongue bilingual education. The party's Delmaine Christians says these measures are crucial for ensuring better educational outcomes:

December 6, 2024 16

Local

Civil Society Spells Out Budget Priorities

25 October 2024 Civil society organisations (CSOs) believe the national budget is a powerful tool that can be used more effectively to address systemic poverty, improve living conditions, and promote social equity in Namibia. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) today released a new briefing paper, entitled Civil Society & The Budget: Perspectives on Priorities. The paper is being published ahead of the 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Review to be […]

October 30, 2024 10

Local

Civil Society Spells Out Budget Priorities

25 October 2024 Civil society organisations (CSOs) believe the national budget is a powerful tool that can be used more effectively to address systemic poverty, improve living conditions, and promote social equity in Namibia. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) today released a new briefing paper, entitled Civil Society & The Budget: Perspectives on Priorities. The paper is being published ahead of the 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Review to be […]

October 28, 2024 8

Africa

South Africa is failing its youngest children – report flags critical gaps in early learning, social protection and health care

By Wiedaad Slemming, University of Cape Town; Linda Biersteker, University of Cape Town, and Lori Lake, University of Cape Town Nearly 10 years ago South Africa outlined its commitment to invest in the health and development of young children. The National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy of 2015 detailed government’s intention to provide a comprehensive set of services to pregnant women, young children and their families by […]

September 12, 2024 27

Namibia

Education Ministry invests in early learning initiatives

During the opening of the 6th Children's Parliament, UNICEF Representative to Namibia, Samuel Kweku, pointed out ongoing difficulties in keeping children in school, with 22% of Grade 4 learners repeating the grade in 2023. Kweku called for urgent investments in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy to address the learning crisis and transform the education system. Edda Bohn, Deputy Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, however explained that Grade 4 marks […]

July 17, 2024 54

Local

Capricorn Group changemakers rally behind side-by-side early intervention centre

On Friday, 17 May 2024, over 30 Capricorn employees, known as Changemakers, dedicated a day to supporting the Side by Side Early Intervention Centre, located in the Goreangab community. The centre provides early childhood development services to children with special needs. The Changemakers' efforts included refurbishing shelves, installing bag hooks, assembling self-care packets, serving meals, planting pot flowers and fostering creative interaction with the children. This initiative […]

May 20, 2024 9

Namibia

European Union launches €16 million ECD reform programme in Namibia

The European Union Delegation to Namibia has launched an Early Childhood Development Reform Programme at the Harmony ECD Centre in the Mix settlement. The ECD Reform Programme is an EU-flagship programme on early childhood development and pre-primary education aimed at contributing to a well-educated and skilled society in Namibia which can play an active role in the nation’s social and economic development. The programme has a budget of Euro 16 […]

April 18, 2024 49