Sandton:President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for accelerated reforms in early childhood development (ECD) to ensure that every child in South Africa has access to quality early learning by 2030. Speaking at the Bana Pele Leadership Summit 2026 at the Galleria Arena and Conference Centre on Monday, he emphasized the importance of investing in ECD to prepare children for a future shaped by technological advancements.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President highlighted that while technology will transform future generations' lives, it cannot replace the essential human interaction and foundational skills children need. The two-day summit aims to strengthen collaboration among government, business, civil society, and philanthropic organizations to achieve universal access to quality early learning by 2030.
President Ramaphosa noted the necessity of equipping children with literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. He acknowledged the transfer of ECD responsibilities from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education in 2022, which distinguishes between childcare and early education. He also stressed the urgency of addressing developmental gaps that prevent children from mastering reading by Grade 4.
Despite progress, around one million children aged three to five are not enrolled in any early learning program, with costs being a significant barrier. The government is working to reduce these barriers by increasing funding and subsidies. The President pointed out that South Africa has more than 39,000 registered early learning programs but needs to intensify efforts to reach more children.
Revised norms and standards for early learning centers were gazetted earlier this year, and the Children's Amendment Bill received Cabinet approval for parliamentary submission. These reforms aim to simplify regulations and ensure that registration requirements do not exclude centers serving poor communities.
Investment in ECD also supports economic development by enabling parents, especially women, to pursue employment or education. The President urged the private sector to invest in ECD as part of corporate social responsibility and to support the sector by building centers, training practitioners, and providing learning materials.
The role of technology in supporting early learning was also discussed, with the President highlighting its potential to expand program reach without replacing practitioners. He acknowledged the contributions of donors and organizations like UNICEF in supporting ECD initiatives across the country.
Finally, President Ramaphosa called for collective responsibility and cooperation from municipalities, community leaders, and organizations to achieve universal access to early learning by 2030, emphasizing the constitutional right to basic education and the importance of strong educational foundations for every child.