Early Childhood Development Practitioner Training
ECD Centres are Social Businesses that need to be run profitably, in order to constitute a full value add for all relevant stakeholders, and, most importantly, for the children to receive the overall benefits of such care.
- Enterprise Development
- Status: Current
- Project Type: Early Childhood Development Practitioner Training
About this Project
Jasper Power has clearly indicated to the IPP office in its submission on the Renewable IPP Procurement Programme, that the Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) operating in the local areas of Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil, are in fact social businesses. Many of these organisations are run by women who may otherwise be unemployed and are supported by their own efforts to provide an income for themselves and their families.
Background
These types of owner-run/management committee crèches would benefit from mentorship programmes, administrative skills and financial support. Furthermore, in considering that these social businesses operate within the local communities, it is considered critical to ensure that all practitioners obtain the required National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 qualification. Through the Custoda Trust, an accredited training provider specialising in ECD training in the Northern Cape, this can be achieved.
In addition, it is always important to note that the 2014 MasterCard Index of Women’s Advancement highlighted unacceptably high gender inequality in South Africa. The MasterCard Index specifically looked at women’s involvement in Employment (Workforce Participation and Regular Employment), Capability (Secondary and Tertiary Education), and Leadership (Business Owners, Business Leaders and Political Leaders).
This report also noted that for every 100 male entrepreneurs, there were only 25.5 women. The MasterCard Index showed that in 2013, 58% of all entrepreneurs in South Africa were male, while 42% were female. Given this information, Jasper Power aims to bridge the gap even further for the empowerment of women in business, by facilitating the space and policies for women in leadership to develop themselves.
With this in mind, Jasper Power originally started the Early Childhood Development Practitioner Training programme as an 18 month programme back in 2015, upskilling groups of women who are contributing to the education of the country’s youth at the foundation phase, since then it has continued to grow in strength from year to year.
Levels 4 and 5 training programmes
Level 4 ECD Qualification.
This is an entry-level qualification for those who want to enter the field of Education, Training and Development, specifically within the sub-field of Early Childhood Development (ECD). Many of those who will seek this qualification are already practicing within the field, but without formal recognition.
This qualification will enable recipients of this qualification to facilitate the all-round development of young children in a manner that is sensitive to culture and individual needs (including special needs), and enable them to provide quality early childhood development services for children in a variety of contexts, including community-based services, ECD centres, at home and in institutions. In particular, recipients of this qualification will be able to:
- Plan and prepare for Early Childhood Development
- Facilitate and monitor the development of babies, toddlers and young children
- Provide care and support to babies, toddlers and young children
Level 5 ECD Qualification
The Higher Certificate is designed to provide access to higher education for many experienced and skilled Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners and trainers who do not have recognised qualifications. The purpose of this qualification is to:
- Develop ECD practitioners (e.g. home-based, centre- and school-based practitioners including Grade R, family and community ECD motivators, fieldworkers, facilitators, trainers and managers) to provide appropriate education, training and development services in the ECD sub-field.
- Enable ECD practitioners to use their knowledge of child growth and development from birth to six years and relevant national policies to guide their professional practice in the ECD sub-field.
This qualification provides an opportunity for practitioners with a Level 4 Certificate in ECD or an equivalent to further their professional development and to specialise in aspects of ECD practice.