Cape Town launches ECD forum in Subcouncil 20 to support early learning centres
A new Early Childhood Development (ECD) forum covering seven wards in Subcouncil 20, held its inaugural meeting at The Mill coffee shop in Wynberg. The forum aims to support early learning centres rather than penalise them.
What the forum does
Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, speaking to People’s Post, said the forum forms part of a broader City of Cape Town initiative to work more closely with ECD operators.
Andrews said the forum aims to close information gaps and ensure operators understand compliance requirements, funding opportunities and available support.
“We are trying to understand where the bottlenecks are, what the issues are, and how we can help them,” he said.
Fear holding operators back
Andrews said a key challenge was that many ECD operators were unaware of available support. Others hesitated to engage with formal structures due to fears of enforcement action.
Cape Town has about 2 620 ECD centres. An estimated 60% are not fully compliant, he said.
Andrews added that the City’s intention was not to shut down centres but to guide them towards compliance.
“We are saying no, let us have a conversation,” he said.
Recent reforms and funding
Andrews said recent municipal planning reforms had made it easier for smaller ECD centres to operate within the regulatory framework. Centres caring for fewer than 34 children benefit most from the changes, he said.
The City has also established a fund to assist qualifying centres with infrastructure expansion and service connection costs, Andrews said.
Andrews said the City works in collaboration with provincial and national government to support the sector.
“We want all of our children to achieve their educational outcomes,” he said.
- Subcouncil 20 covers Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Constantia, Wynberg, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Tokai, Hout Bay and Llandudno.
ALSO READ: Thousands of unqualified ECD teachers disadvantage children, warns NPO
