President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again emphasised the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD), saying that effective learning is the only solution and the best investment of the country’s future.
In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa says one of the most damaging effects of Bantu Education under the draconian apartheid system was the deliberate neglect of black children when it came to the provision of foundation years learning.
According to a study published in 1992, it found that during apartheid, only 6% of black children had access to quality ECD programmes compared to one third of all white children.
He says the post democratic government has spent the last 30 years trying to correct this and now through the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA), this process can speed up.
His letter comes a week after the annual Basic Education Sector Lekgotla was held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni where role-players deliberated and came up with solutions that face the sector.
Dear Fellow South African,
Last year, our country achieved a record matriculation pass rate of 87%. This is a welcome sign that efforts to transform our education system are bearing fruit.
🔗 https://t.co/IoXdKCAMlO#AWorkingNation 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/5ksLeuSZg6
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 3, 2025
VIDEO | Basic Education Lekgotla addresses strengthening early childhood development:
