Attention broadcasters: English audio clip attached.
The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the Western Cape Education Department’s decision to appoint 500 qualified Grade R teachers at the beginning of next year.
In addition to this, the WCED also announced that they would be exploring a qualification pathway for underqualified Grade R teachers to meet the requisite appointment qualification. This will further assist in boosting our capacity and thus I will be enquiring more about this initiative.
It is widely known that the early years of a child’s life remain crucial for their development as a person and the ability to learn during their school career. Earlier this year, the WCED took on the responsibility of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres from the provincial Department of Social Development. As such, there are now 1 613 certified ECD centres in the Western Cape that are financially supported by the WCED in order for them to carry out their operations.
Additionally, WCED has spent more than R9.5 million on the Blocks4Growth and Step-Up Programmes, which will provide 4 to 5-year-olds and 5 to 6-year-olds, respectively, with the opportunity to progress developmentally so that they can meet the demands of their learning environments. The funds are being managed by two social service organisations (SSOs), namely the Learning Initiative and the Knysna Education Trust.
By appointing these teachers, the Western Cape has once again proven that we are home to quality education that commits to building strong foundations for our learners.