Presenter: Sonja Giese, Promoting Access to Children's Entitlements
Date: Monday 6 August 2012, 12:45 for 1pm – 2pm
Venue: CSSR Room 429, Leslie Social Science Building, UCT Upper Campus
Abstract
Research authors: Sonja Giese, Debbie Budlender, Lizette Berry, Steve Motlatla and Hombakazi Zide, on behalf of Ilifa Labantwana
This seminar will review the findings and recommendations from recent research commissioned by Ilifa Labantwana, a consortium of funding agencies* supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) in South Africa. The research investigated government funding for ECD and looked at the extent to which ECD service providers are aware of and able to access this funding.
The research methodology included a desk review of previous research and other data sources, a policy review of government obligations and prescribed requirements and procedures, and analysis of budgets within national and provincial spheres of government. Primary research was undertaken in one municipality in each of three provinces, namely: Mbashe in the Eastern Cape, Ratlou in the North West, and Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Interviews were conducted with 61 local ECD practitioners and 37 government officials.
The seminar will include a discussion of progress that has been made in supporting ECD over the past decade, some of the remaining gaps, key barriers to fund access, and inequity in provisioning. It will provide an opportunity for debate on the proposed recommendations for addressing common challenges associated with government funding of early childhood development services at both policy and administrative levels.
To attend, RSVP us for catering purposes.
* The DG Murray Trust, UBS Optimus Foundation and the ELMA Foundation