Early life experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning, well-being, and success. In South Africa, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) ecosystem is crucial in shaping the future of our society. However, it faces many challenges that affect its ability to make a lasting impact. These challenges stem from systemic issues, societal factors, and even the language we use to discuss ECD-related matters. Recently, our Investment Associate, Nonku Nyathi, attended several ECD ecosystem events, including a Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP) forum, and the Child Gauge launch where experts and key ecosystem players gathered to share their insights and concerns. From these discussions, we have identified ten of the most pressing challenges facing early learning in South Africa today.
1. Limited Access to Early Learning Programmes
Nationally, approximately 1,15 million children aged three to five years are not enrolled in any kind of early learning programme (ELP). The Department of Basic Education (DBE) emphasised that ensuring that all children in South Africa have access to early learning is essential. The Department determines universal access by categorising children based on their ages: Support for children aged 0-2 should focus on primary caregivers; access to ELPs should be available but not mandatory for 3-4-year-olds. For children aged 5 to 5.5, the goal is for 95% to attend an ELP. Additionally, ensuring that children with disabilities receive the necessary support through proper referral pathways is equally important.
2. Infrastructure Shortages for Early Learning Programmes
Infrastructure shortages remain a significant barrier to effective early learning service delivery. The government often does not have enough funds to meet the early learning infrastructure needs, with a slow procurement process causing delays. In low-resourced provinces, the lack of proper early learning centres forces parents to use informal, unregistered facilities, which not only risk children’s safety but also hinder their development. Addressing infrastructure challenges is essential for improving early learning outcomes and ensuring that all children have access to safe, conducive learning environments. This gap presents a crucial opportunity for innovative solutions to address the challenge.
3. Inadequate Support for Early Learning Practitioners
One of the major challenges in early learning is the lack of or limited support for early learning practitioners. Practitioners struggle due to inadequate resources, skills training, and mentorship, which affects their ability to deliver quality learning programmes and hampers their professional growth and job satisfaction. Addressing this issue is critical for ensuring that children receive the quality learning they deserve and that practitioners are supported in their roles.
4. Complicated ELP Regulatory Framework
The overly complicated regulatory framework for ELPs poses a significant challenge in early learning. This framework acts as a compliance checklist that centres must meet to register and access the government subsidy. However, the requirements are often too complex, involving regulations from multiple entities like municipalities and health departments. This complexity is particularly difficult for ELPs in low-resourced communities, where meeting these requirements can be nearly impossible. Simplifying the regulatory framework could significantly improve the accessibility and quality of early learning, especially in resource-limited areas, making this an area ripe for innovation.
5. Data Deficiencies for ELPs
The state of data for ELPs is a huge challenge. Accurate and accessible data is fundamental for planning, monitoring, and scaling early learning initiatives effectively. Without reliable data, it is difficult to assess the impact of programmes, allocate resources efficiently, or make informed decisions about the future of early learning in South Africa. Improving data collection and management practices is essential for driving progress in the sector.
6. Insufficient Public Financing to Meet Early Learning Targets
Public financing remains insufficient to meet the ambitious targets set by DBE, including building 115,000 new early learning centres and employing and training 270,000 practitioners. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive Human Resource development plan to identify where practitioners need to be upskilled and to ensure they are equipped to meet the demands of this increase. Considering the financial constraints faced by the sector, exploring innovative funding models beyond traditional public finance is essential.
7. Inconsistent Language Use Impact on Funding Allocation
One other challenge is the ambiguity and inconsistency in the language used to describe early learning. Terms like “ECD”, “Early Learning Programmes (ELPs),” “sites” and “centres” are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion within the sector and among external stakeholders, including funders. ECD is more than just a place or programme; it is a holistic process that supports children’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development from conception until they start formal schooling. When the language is unclear, funds are often misallocated to school readiness programmes or Grade R instead of the critical early years that ECD encompasses. To address this, stakeholders in the ECD ecosystem must use precise and consistent language, ensuring resources and funding are better aligned with the needs of young children.
8. Limited Support and Resources for NGOs
NGOs are crucial in providing essential early learning services, yet they often lack the support needed to achieve the sector’s goals. This challenge is particularly pronounced in under-resourced and rural areas like the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. A significant issue is that NGOs often establish themselves in areas where resources are already available, leaving less-resourced regions underserved. To ensure effective service delivery, there is a strong push for population-based planning to identify where resources are most needed and to guide the establishment of NGOs in those areas. This approach is vital for addressing disparities and fostering innovation within the sector.
9. Entrepreneurs in ECD Largely Unseen
While NGOs are widely recognised in this space, the role of social entrepreneurs remains largely overlooked. At Innovation Edge, we view entrepreneurs as key players in delivering innovative early learning solutions. However, many within the ecosystem are unfamiliar with the work these entrepreneurs are doing, revealing a gap in awareness and support. To bridge this disparity, the ecosystem needs to better understand who these entrepreneurs are, where they operate, and the challenges they face in scaling their solutions. Addressing these barriers, can ensure that entrepreneurs are fully integrated into the ecosystem, driving more innovative and scalable solutions for early learning.
10. Collaboration Gaps Hinder Early Learning Impact
A recurring theme in the discussions was the need for better collaboration among the various players in the ecosystem. DBE has developed a theory of change and a “social compact” to outline how different stakeholders—government, funders, businesses, and other role players in the sector—can work together to achieve shared goals. Embracing this collaborative approach is essential, as partnership and knowledge sharing are crucial for making real progress in early learning.
Charting a Path Forward
The issues facing early learning in South Africa are significant, but they can be overcome through collaboration, innovation, and strong support for key service providers within the ECD ecosystem. Exploring innovative funding models, such as results-based financing, could incentivise NGOs to collect crucial data and improve service delivery in under-resourced areas. This approach allows for more targeted and effective resource allocation.
Advocacy efforts are also key to educating funders about the specific needs of children under six and ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
At Innovation Edge, we are addressing these challenges by supporting social innovators and entrepreneurs who provide solutions to early learning. Through our investments in innovative solutions like Early Bird, Play for All, Upskill, and OurSpace, for instance, we are actively contributing to improving learning outcomes for children in South Africa. This also highlights a significant contribution made by entrepreneurs in this space.
Visit our investment page to learn more about how some of our current and past partners are improving early learning through their innovative solutions.
Author: Dimpho Lephaila – Communications Associate at Innovation Edge