​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has urged Early Childhood Development (ECD) and care sector stakeholders to work closely with the department to address the barriers so that every child has an equal chance at a better life.
Speaking at the ECD Open Day over the weekend at Nkone Maruping Primary School in Braamfischer, MEC Chiloane said prioritising and expanding ECDs is no mistake. 
"Gone are the days during which ECD was reserved for the privileged few and, by implications widening the performance gaps between our schools. We want to take the ECDs to the level where they belong. We are not making a mistake. We want the same quality of ECD centres because we know our centres are many.
"We must move to a point where we direct and formalise this sector. We must monitor our children thoroughly, how they are cared for, what type of curriculum they are taught, and how they are assessed. We need to tighten up the loose ends," said Chiloane.
Held under the theme "Working together towards improving access to Early Childhood Education and Care", the day was a platform for everyone providing services to centres to exhibit their services, share best practices, and learn from one another.
ECD is a comprehensive approach to developing a child from birth to seven years of age and aims to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social, and physical potential. 
MEC Chiloane said an ECD foundation plays a critical role in preparing a child to thrive in their schooling life as practitioners can identify learners
with disabilities or special needs that require urgent treatment.
"ECD shapes children's identities. Like every other aspect of life, early childhood development involves personality. When they are born, each experience they have develops their personality in some shape or form," the MEC added. 
Last year, the Gauteng province successfully migrated the ECD function from the Department of Social Development to Education. 
The migration is in line with other countries that have moved from viewing ECD less as a child protection function and more as an early learning function.
The Department of Education's new functions includes ensuring universal availability and adequate quality of, and equitable access to, inclusive learning opportunities; and the development, delivery, regulation, registration, quality monitoring, improvement, and evaluation of ECD programmes.
The DSD will remain responsible for child protection; psycho-social services; the child support grant; access to social services to prevent and address risk factors; parental support programmes; and partial care facilities related to after-school services, private hostels, and temporary respite care centres.