The plan estimates that in 2030 South Africa will have about four million children under three years, nearly two million in the four to five years age group and just under one million aged six.

"The quality and coverage of early childhood development services for children up to four years is poor. Grade R is the strongest element of pre-school learning and support."

The plan, unveiled by National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel this week, suggests that some of the ways to improve early childhood development include increased funding and training practitioners.

According to the South African Institute for Race Relations, about 68% of children aged four and below do not go to early childhood development centres.

Centres include crèches, playgroups, nursery schools and pre-primary schools.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says Grade R enrolments doubled between 2003 and 2011.

In 2010 only 707,203 pupils attended Grade R.

WHAT YOUNG MOTHERS SAY:

Unathi Mxadi, 23, mother of a two-year-old from Orlando: "It is a good idea but money is a problem. This new school will probably be more expensive".

Mpho Rikhotso, 27, mother of two toddlers from Klipspruit: "I don't see the point of it. What is Grade R for? Grade R prepares children for Grade 1".

Monde Kakobe, 32, unemployed mother of a four-year-old from Tshiawelo: "It is a good thing. The child will not struggle in Grade 1 with this idea".

Comments

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Sat May 18 12:52:52 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 17, 2012

MommaC

..... just don't expect any learning material or teachers in the class rooms
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Aug 17, 2012

RobinH

Ag f*ck this for a joke. Just get the actual schooling of beginners sorted you numbskulls. Don't add another year to the school lives of kids already challenged by incompetent education management, lack of books, lack of classrooms, lack of.... lack of.... (and the list goes on and on). Do your damned jobs.
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Aug 17, 2012

Stimela

wamuhle makoti on the picture, sengathi ungagana.
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Aug 17, 2012

Nicholaster

The comment given by this lady Mpho, it visibilise the dullness of her mind
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Aug 17, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

If it's for free is cool,but if they think we'll have to take our hands into our pockets ke maseption daai ding.
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Aug 17, 2012

1tsotsi

One shouold start by enrolling Dandan, so he can learn some manners... And teach him A.E.I.O.U... Cause wa pha phe phi pho phuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!
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Aug 17, 2012

RobinH

tsotsi. Spot on, My Man!!! He is such a skaap.
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Aug 17, 2012

MommaC

Why not just start kids at school earlier?

I started school the year that I turned 5. Now they start when they are 7 or 8. It is a lot easier to instil discipline and get rid of habits created by bad parenting on a 5 year old than it is on an 8 year old.
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Aug 17, 2012

RobinH

Agreed MommaC. I started school at 4 as well. But of course we all know that this is all really a rather weak attempt at deflecting the attention from the hideous mess the current crop of sycophants have made of our once excellent education system.
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Aug 17, 2012

legendarybenedictoholic

no! no! no! i attended pre school for one year and after that i went straight to grade 1 and trust me, i was doing just fine. whats the two years for? maybe if you guys can say that children go to pre school when they are six, that may help. i mean thats how old i was when i went to pre school, and until today i'm still doing fine.
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