By Nyaradzo Mutanha, MERL specialist at Breadline Africa
Each morning, in Khayelitsha, Ntombentsha Sobekwa sets up her classroom with only a few teaching and play resources. At the end of each month, she is left with only a couple of Rands after spending most of the monies on the operation costs to run her ECD Centre. Her story is not unique, many ECD centres across SA face the same struggle. Nationally, the latest Thrive by Five Index reports that only 42% of enrolled four-year-olds are developmentally on track, with 28% falling behind and 30% falling far behind. The findings indicate the need for adequate resources in ECD’s to ensure that children have the right support.
Investing in ECD is one of the most effective strategies for building human capital and breaking the cycle of poverty. Research by Nobel laureate James Heckman and others, demonstrates that investment in the first five years of life yields the highest return on investment compared to interventions later in life.[i] Further, index shows specific areas of strength and weakness: only 29 percent of enrolled children are on track for fine-motor coordination and visual-motor integration, while 53 percent are on track in emergent literacy and language. These early years are a critical window where the foundations for lifelong learning, health and productivity are built.
In South Africa, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has recently prioritised ECD in its national budget, recognising its importance for improving outcomes throughout the education system. This allocation signals a strong commitment from the government, but it is not enough. The latest index report shows that outcomes remain unequal: children in high-fee preschools are approximately twice as likely to be on track as those in low-fee centres. Social investors and philanthropic funders continue to play a key role by complementing the national budget through targeted, innovative investments that reach underserved communities.
Data-driven decision making is vital in this context. Funding must be directed to initiatives that demonstrate clear outcomes: improved school readiness, better nutrition, safer environments and stronger caregiver support. Measuring what works and adjusting strategies ensures that every rand spent delivers maximum impact.The gaps are huge. Approximately 29 percent of four-year-olds are not enrolled in any early learning programme, and among non-enrolled children only 18 percent are on track while 55 percent are falling far behind.
ECD practitioners carry much of this burden, often with too few resources and little recognition. Studies in South Africa have shown that most practitioners work with very limited resources,[ii] often in unsafe and overcrowded spaces, without access to professional development or adequate teaching materials. Health and nutrition constraints compound these challenges: seven percent of enrolled four-year-olds show moderate or severe stunting, and stunted children are, on average, five months behind their peers in early learning. Despite these challenges, ECD Practitioners form the backbone of early foundation learning. Without them, millions of children would miss out on critical early stimulation and care that shape their future. Their commitment must be complemented, and not left to carry the burden alone.
Breadline Africa’s work is aimed at bridging this gap. By providing safe, functional infrastructure to poorly resourced ECD centres, we enable practitioners to focus on their core mission: teaching and nurturing children. Our support extends beyond physical structures. We ensure that children have a kitchen to receive nutritious meals, warm classrooms to learn in, age-appropriate toilets to maintain dignity and hygiene, and a sick bay to care for them when they are unwell. This infrastructure support is a vital part of the Bana Pele registration drive, enabling more ECD centres to meet the standards required to access government subsidies.
To complement the services provided by these dedicated practitioners, Breadline Africa also implements the Nurturing Care Framework in partnership with registered training organisations (RTOs). This framework focuses on five essential elements namely good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, security and safety, and opportunities for early learning to ensure that the whole child is supported.
ECD practitioners give so much, but they can’t do it alone. Without real investment in infrastructure, training, and support, the promise of early learning will never be fully realised. Every rand spent on ECD must make a real difference — building safe, caring spaces where children and their caregivers can grow.
We know what it takes to change the story. With the right backing, every child in South Africa can have a safe place to learn and grow. That future begins with the practitioners who show up for them every day. If you want to explore how you can support this work or discuss partnership opportunities, we would love to hear from you.
[i] https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1128898
[ii] https://www.datafirst.uct.ac.za/dataportal/index.php/catalog/908/related-materials