Child development centres on track despite setbacks

DESPITE major setbacks, three “centres of excellence” being built by the city for early childhood development (ECD) are back on track.

The centres, intended to provide children with a solid foundation while training caregivers and professionals to meet the proper requirements for crèches, are part of a long-term plan to invest in young children.

Eighteen facilities for early childhood development were upgraded during the past financial year during which just over R4 million was spent.

A number of other centres are due for upgrades in the new financial year at a cost of R3.6m.

The centre of excellence in Strandfontein is “structurally complete”, says councillor Suzette Little, mayoral committee member for social development and early childhood development.

“We are currently on site completing the snag lists and other scopes of work that have not been included in the tender documents for the contractor to complete.” Examples of this would include play park equipment, food gardens and synthetic turf for the play areas.

It will be finished at the end of September “if all goes according to plan”, she said.

In February, when the “turning of the sod” took place at the site, ANC supporters picketed outside the fence. Mandy van Willing, an ANC branch member,complained the ECD centre of excellence wasn’t a “multi-purpose centre”, and accused the city of “using the last piece of available land” in the area.

But Felicity Purchase, sub-council chairwoman for the South Peninsula, said at the time: “The importance of well-functioning ECD centres cannot be overstated. A child who receives the right kind of stimulation in their early years will cope better when they enter the formal education system.”

The centre in Leonsdale had opened while the one in Ocean View was several months behind schedule by April after the building site was vandalised. It will open in September.

Centres are to be built in Delft, Mitchells Plain, Dunoon, Heideveld and Lotus River.