Commentary on the proposed migration of ECD functions from DSD to DBE
The commentary below was delivered by DGMT CEO, Dr David Harisson, on the proposed migration of ECD functions from DSD to DBE at the NECT 2nd Education Dialogue on ECD on 12 April 2019 Time of opportunity The President’s SONA announcement of a transfer of responsibility for ECD centres from DSD to DBE and the […]
Risk and opportunity as early childhood development moves to Department of Basic Education
This year’s State of the Nation Address may have radically changed South Africa’s prospects for education and economic growth. For the first time, there is a clear commitment to early childhood development (ECD), which is globally recognized as the most powerful investment in human capital that a country can make.[1],[2] At last there is real […]
Creating jobs and improving education at the same time
There’s a wonderful book by Dr Seuss that all parents should read to their children. It’s called Oh, the Places you’ll Go, written for young people as they set off on life’s exciting journey towards success (“98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed”!). But it’s not all breathlessly gung-ho. The book acknowledges that there are amazing […]
DGMT and Primedia launch a massive billboard campaign to support early childhood development
DGMT and Primedia have recently launched one of the country’s largest-ever national outdoor media campaigns, demonstrating the power of early childhood development to change the future of South Africa. The billboard campaign will showcase three large-scale initiatives to prevent nutritional stunting and promote early learning and reading –namely Grow Great, SmartStart and Nal’ibali. It comes […]
Three ingredients for great ECD centres and how to support them
We often talk about the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a key strategy to change South Africa. That is because children are the source of human capital. If we want to change the education system, grow the economy and create jobs, we must invest in young children. We are also not only talking to […]
Early Learning: The Great Equalizer for South Africa
Education has always been thought of as one of our greatest tools for liberation. We used it to overcome colonialism and Apartheid. But after 24 years of democracy, can education liberate us from the persistent legacy of racial inequality that continues to plague the country? Research suggests that an effective way of using education to […]
Homeopathic doses of early learning just won’t work
Once the dust settles, it will dawn on us that much of the extra R57 billion allocated to higher education will be wasted as half the beneficiaries drop out. Why? Because their educational foundations are too shaky to cope with the demands of university or college. Over the next three years, more than a trillion […]
The South African Child Gauge 2017: Invest in children for sustainable development
Most of South Africa’s children are surviving, but too many are failing to thrive and achieve their full potential, and this is costing the economy billions in lost human potential. Investing in children – and particularly in violence prevention, networks of care, nutrition, education and inclusive services – would drive the next wave of social […]
ECD resource: Ilifa Labantwana’s Insights Magazine
Ilifa Labantwana released the third issue of their Ilifa Insights magazine this week. In this issue the relationship between the parent – or the primary caregiver – and the child is explored. Neuroscientist Barak Morgan explains the effects of an adverse external environment on the architecture of the brain, and the impact of interventions on caregivers’ brains, and […]
Radio interviews: David Harrison talks about the potential of ECD and reading for joy
On World Literacy Day last week (8 September 2015), DGMT CEO, David Harrison was interviewed by Tim Modise from Power FM, John Maytham on Cape Talk and SA FM’s The Talk Show. He talked about DGMT, our work and that of our implementing partners, but most importantly he explained why early childhood development and helping children to […]
