It is only 24 hours before the official date of the migration of Early Childhood Development function from Social Development to the Department of Education.
The official date for the migration of the Early Childhood Development Centres is Friday, 01 April 2022. About 89 officials from the Department of Social Development are expected to move to the department of Education.
In 2019 during the State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that ECD function will be shifted from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Education.
The MEC for Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela indicated that the department is ready to receive the ECD function.
“As the Education department we are ready to receive the ECD function. Since the President pronounced about the migration of ECDs, we embarked on a massive consultation with all stakeholders. To assure them that officials are not going to lose their jobs”, said MEC Matsemela.
MEC for Social Department Boitumelo Moiloa said her department will remain with other important functions which include child protection, psycho-social services, access to social services to prevent and address risk factors, parental support programmes, and partial care facilities that relate to after-school services, private hostels and temporary respite care centres.
“There should be no uncertainties with regard to ECD shift function. All registered and unregistered ECD centres including 89 posts from the department of social development will migrate to education department per our collective agreement and signed proclamations. We are one government and we will ensure that everything runs smooth throughout the transition period,” Moiloa said.
Department will continue to support the Department of Education beyond the 1 April 2022. The relationship with the NPO sector, Moiloa said will be maintained such that they remain compliant to the NPO Act. She said her department will also ensure that they provide capacity building to all NPOs in areas of governance, resource mobilization and conflict management.
Issued by North West Departments of Social Development and Education
Department of Social Development – Departmental Spokesperson – Petrus Siko
Cell: 083 647 0668
Email : psiko@nwpg.gov.za
Department of Education – Departmental Spokesperson – Elias Malindi
Cell: 072 1154855/072 892 8399
Email: EMalindi@nwpg.gov.za
