Early Childhood Development
This project has been developed to assist caregivers in impoverished communities who are tasked with looking after preschool children while their parents are at work. Many of these caregivers have limited education and therefore no access to formal training. Education Africa runs a year-long series of workshops to assist them in ensuring that the children in their care acquire the necessary skills needed when entering the formal school system. On-site visits are also undertaken by our ECD Specialist to ensure that the skills which the caregivers have learnt in the workshops, are implemented in the classroom.
WHY DID EDUCATION AFRICA LAUNCH THE ECD PROJECT?
Research into a number of ECD centres in disadvantaged areas revealed the following:
- Babies are not being stimulated and assisted with physical movement and development.
- Education of learners ranging from the ages of 1 - 5 years is not adequate.
- Consequently, the majority of the 6-year old children are not school ready.
- Gross motor development is not a priority area that is monitored, resulting in learning problems at a later stage.
- Educational tools/resources are limited and care-givers have not been trained in how to use such resources for maximum educational benefit.
Education Africa therefore concluded that the provision of a whole school training project for ECD practitioners would present the most far reaching and best intervention in these communities.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE EDUCATION AFRICA ECD PROJECT?
The project involves the education and mentorship of ECD practitioners through the following:
- Early Childhood Development Principles and how to apply them
- Understanding developmental standards of children up to 6 years old.
- Classroom management
- Theme files and curriculum planning
- Motor skills
- Speech and language development
- Pre-reading and maths skills
- Emotional Intelligence
- Cognitive Stimulation and Perceptual Skills
- Making own resources
- School Readiness
- Health and Safety including First Aid
- Support Children and Adults living with HIV/AIDS
- Pre-school registration requirements
- Basic Business Concepts and training for financial sustainability
In all the above we follow the successful Play-with-a-Purpose curriculum.
HOW DOES EDUCATION AFRICA ENSURE THE ABOVE ARE ACHIEVED?
The Education Africa ECD Project supports quarterly workshops for continued professional development of the teachers. On-site training by our ECD Specialist is offered at all Education Africa ECD partner schools on a regular basis, as well as continuous assessment and mentorship to make sure that what has been learnt at the workshops is implemented in the classroom. Following a 12-month period of training, caregivers are assessed and if successful, will be presented with Play-with-a-Purpose Certificates at a graduation ceremony.
Our programme gives care-givers the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding career while providing a learning environment that children can excel in and benefit from throughout their entire schooling.
The Education Africa ECD Project is sponsored by Centriq Insurance Holdings Ltd and we would like to acknowledge the role that the company has played in ensuring the success of this project.
SCHOOLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN OUR ECD PROJECT
| Weiler's Farm: |
Thembelihle |
| Orange Farm: |
Emmanuel Day Care Centre ; Teddy Bear Pre-School; Tebogo School for the Handicapped; Olifantsvlei Grade R |
| Jouberton: |
Junior Early Learning Centre; Vuyani PreSchool, Ithembelam Creche; Ledibeng early Learning Centre; Aganan Pre-School; Botshelo Pre-school; Bonolo; Boitumelo Pre-School; Keletso Early Learning Centre; Boitumelong Pre-School; Tsakane Pre-School |
| Cosmo City: |
Faith Pre-School; Butterfly Fairyland; Cosmo City Day Care; Hlabirwa Mmetla; Diana Tshiamo; Mamonaso; Molale Day Care; Letlhabile; Little Angels; Wake up and do it; Good Shepherd; Trinity Day Care; Sechaba; Perseverance; Luzuko; Queen Pre-school; Kwena-Molapo Grade R; Tsotlhe; Dodo Angels; Ethandeni; Bunny Beez; Kanana; |
| Zandspruit: |
Kopano; Ikageng; Ithuteng; Realeboga; Lufuno; Olerato; Happy Kidz; Epopeng; Lucky Stars; Thusanang; Buhle; Sewagodimo; Future of Tomorrow; Relebogile; Dinoko |
Over 100 educators are currently benefitting from the Education Africa ECD Project. This means that more than 2 000 children are being reached and are able to enjoy the benefits from a better pre-school education.
*** NEWS UPDATE ***
ECD CAREGIVERS GRADUATE
 The graduation ceremony of 19 caregivers who are part of the Education Africa ECD Project took place on 9 December 2010. These care-givers, who all come from the Orange Farm and Jouberton area, successfully completed the Play-with-a-Purpose Curriculum.
We are enormously proud of the effort and commitment which these ladies have demonstrated in wanting to improve their teaching skills for our young pre-schoolers. Special mention needs to be made of Phindile Phungwayo of Thembelihle Pre-School and Nelisiwe Mabizela from the Emmanuel Day Care Centre who both successfully completed the Play-with-a-Purpose Grade R Course We are also particularly proud of Phindile for having been awarded the Best Franchise 2010 - Creative Stimulation by the Play-with-a-Purpose franchise.
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