YOUNG CHILDREN COME FIRST

Statistics SA reports that only 37% of children aged from birth to four year’s old currently attend an ECD facility.

Less than half of the children under five have access to early childhood development (ECD) programmes, despite this being the best time to invest in a child’s education.

Given that local government is a critical component to provide access to early childhood development, local charity, Singakwenza, has heeded the call by Professor Eric Atmore to address the issue with political parties ahead of the local government elections on November 1.

They started by challenging

DA members, leader John Steenhuisen and uMngeni mayoral candidate, Chris Pappas, during their visit to Howick last week.

Linda Hill, project coordinator and fundraiser for Singakwenza, said: “ECD is not mentioned in their manifesto. Singakwenza advocates that every child, no

matter the background, circumstance or economic status of the family, benefits from quality early learning opportunities that our Constitution promises children.”

Pictured her are (from left) Slindile Mchunu, Singakwenza’s ECD trainer, and Christopher Pappas and Hazel Lake from the uMngeni DA.