You are working on a very important issue in professionalising Early Chidhood Development inclusively. In my opinion we cannot seperate 0-4 qualification to grade R. I do not have insight on the level 3 and 4 curriculum, however I count on these teachers’ experience with children and training they have received. Early Childhood Development is the core of the Nation and foundation for future citizenry. Unless teachers of young children are exposed to developmental theories of young children we are not doing them justice. Our teacher can learn at different levels but with good course work we will all succeed. It is clear that the history of ECD being served by mothers who came to take care of children makes us wonder if they are ready for advance learning. I believe that they are ready at their level and we need to start somewhere where they are and push them to the required level as you say beef up the quality of level 3 and 4 which varies across the country. Therefore, I encourage you in this step and believe that we are ready because our children have ready long before now. It is a matter of urgency now to professionalize ECD as our children are growing in the most challanging times. Just to share yesterday I was sitting with my 7 year old on the balcony watching the Durban beautiful view. Opposite us was another block of flats that was lower than our level. I asked her “Do you think I can jump to the other block and land on the roof?” she responded “No, no mom you cannot even the monkeys I was watching they will be pulled down to the floor before getting there the distance is too big” I said “But Jackie Chen does it on TV can’t I learn.” she laughed at me and said “Mom at TV they use technology to do that he cannot do that in real life” Don’t you know that something pulls us down we cannot fly like birds, and when Jackie Chen falls on the ground it is not the real ground mom they make sure that they put things to protect him where he will fall”. Then we went further talking about how robots work and the force of gravity grabbing the opportunity on my side. I was shocked to see her critical thinking she demonstrated because I thought I was chatting at her level which happened to be my level I guess. I think it is urgent that we professionalise ECD career period.

People viewing this blog may also be interested in Eric Atmore’s article on ECD “Early Learning Opportunities Vital for National Senior Certificate Success” published in NGO Pulse on 18th January 2012.

I understand anc accept the fair chance of success with support provision for learning at a number of different levels, but the first point is what bothers me…. “assessments are at the appropriate level (not too difficult, and not too easy)”. At the end of the program any student who takes up a course through ODL is going to go through the same competitive process and why should the assessments be in the moderate level. What also bothers me is the tone of the sentence which seems to suggest “for ODL students” considering their background let’s not tax them, let’s get to the middle ground…. As an educator it is hard for me to accept that kind of perspective. Thanks once again. 

Keep an eye out for the African eLearning Network which is currrently in a feasiblity/planning stage. We will be happy to include UNISWA in any questionnaires etc to elicit information concerning the best way to set this up.