According to the latest research by Dr B.J Langa, Early Childhood Development (ECD) affects all of us in various levels: family, community and national. It affects the household economy, micro-economy and macroeconomics. The important stage of a child for development is from birth to 5 years.  South Africa must prioritise and invest in our Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme indefinitely. Lastly, most of us are definite products of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) known as Day Care, Day Mama or Crèche. This fight is worth it for our mentors.

Educators are legally obligated to create a safe learning environment for learners. Physical, verbal and psychological abuse is not acceptable in schools. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1997 with the constitution stating that no one may administer corporal punishment at a school against a learner; a person who does this conscious of this provision is guilty of a criminal offence.  Alarming statistics show that 57% of South African learners reported that they are experiencing violence at school, [4]. Personal testimony:  "On the 18th of October 2024, my daughter, a 10-year-old grade four learner, was assaulted by a male educator who used his fists to punch her head multiple times. Pheasant Folly Primary educators instruct learners not to tell their parents about teacher-on-learner violence that occurs at school. The school harbours educators who are a danger to our children by justifying his behaviour as my daughter was “deserving” of the punches to the head, and he showed no remorse even after being in my presence in the principal’s office, where he admitted to the crime he committed against Cleo (pseudonym). My daughter has been a victim of bullying since last year, 2023, and I have personally escalated the case to the school. The case was recorded and nothing came of that case. Feeling like she needed to defend herself from her classmate (a boy) who wanted her snacks when their altercation escalated to the point where they exchanged insults. This scene was playing out while the learners were left unsupervised long enough for the two learners to have a verbal argument. When the educator finally showed up, one of the students alerted him that the two classmates were having an argument. The educator invited the 2 to the front of the class, where he then punched the boy 3 times with a closed fist on his head whilst he violently punched Cleo several times on her head as well. He told her that she deserved it more than the boy. After the assault, she went to sit at her desk and began to cry from the pain and humiliation that had just occurred in front of her 60-odd classmates. Instead of sending any of the other students who weren’t crying and in pain, the teacher sent Cleo (a crying child) to go and fetch a book from the teacher next door. Upon returning, Cleo put the book on the teacher’s table and went to sit down. He followed her to her desk and demanded to know why she didn’t put the book in his hand. He went on to call her disrespectful and said he’d remedy her disrespectful behaviour. He punched her again several times on the head until my daughter begged for forgiveness, but still, her begging fell on deaf ears as he ground his teeth together and punched a 10-year-old girl and a level 7 student several times on her head …AGAIN! At this point, the teacher told my daughter how she would not amount to anything and how she would start smoking weed and not complete school. He asked the class if Cleo would complete school, and they all said in unison, “No”! When the teacher was done demeaning, degrading and humiliating my daughter, he then said, “go and tell your mother to come to school in her stinking morning gown and see if she will do anything to me coz uzosirasela nje”, meaning I will only make noise for them" The psychological effects that abuse has on learners are irreparable, and after opening a case with SAPS and reporting my daughter's unfortunate plight to the school principal, SAPS did not send me an SMS with the case number, but for some reason, the case ended up in court when I did not know what was happening. The investigating officer had an unwelcome attitude and simply told me that the case would not be successful because I did not want to work with him, he claimed. He said my daughter’s statement was missing, and yet I took her personally to Eden Park Police Station, and the clerk took the statement from my daughter. These are some of the things that demoralize us, police negligence is pervasive. This kind of cruelty to children should be met with zero tolerance. The safety of the learners should be a priority because they are vulnerable and still in developmental stages. How educators treat learners and what they deposit into their brains will have a long-lasting effect and will determine what kind of adult the learner will grow into. Such teachers should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law as they are a danger to learners. Prosecution will also work as a deterrent for future abuse in schools. WHAT CAN BE DONE ? • Prosecute teachers who assault and abuse learners in schools to the full extent of the law. • Ensure swift and fair disciplinary action against abusive teachers. • Develop and implement safe and effective reporting mechanisms for learner abuse in schools. • Provide effective training on alternative discipline methods and implement them. • Teachers who are found to use violence on learners when they’ve been forewarned against it must be dismissed immediately! • Develop policies that promote safe and supportive learning environments • Teachers should be trained to exercise the degree of care they give to their own children. We, therefore, call upon all parents and guardians who have children in public schools to come together and join our campaign NOW before we lose more learner's lives as a result of physical, emotional and psychological abuse that teachers are imposing on our children. If enough of us come together, we can put pressure on the Department of Basic Education MEC, Matome Chiloane and the Director of National Prosecution Authority -Shamila Batohi, to prosecute teachers who assault learners in schools. Please sign the petition and share it widely to reach as many parents and guardians as possible. Help us get justice for our children! “If to correct a student is to humiliate them, then you don’t know how to teach” References [1] Department of Basic Education Handbook, second edition [2] Department of Basic Education Handbook, second edition [3] Gauteng Education Department probes allegations of bullying after Grade 6 boy's alleged suicide by Yoliswa Sobuwa for News24. 25 October 2023. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/gauteng-education-dept-probes-allegations-of-bullying-after-grade-6-boys-alleged-suicide-20231025 [4] Global School-based Student Survey, 2019. 

After 28 Years, since the inception of Grade R through, South African School Act (SASA) of 1996. Stipulated the importance of the Early Childhood Development Programme in a new democratic dispensation. Due to ongoing implementation challenges and failures which resulted to constant reviews of the curriculum since 2000 - 2015, which resulted to  the Phasing Out of multiple Grade R qualifications; such as NQF Level 4 & 5, Certificate in Educare, National Diploma in Educare, PGDE, Diploma in Grade R Qualification and other. All of the above is manipulated by the National Development Program (NDP2030), which is an International plan of action, irrelevant to the standards of South Africa and its economy, which seeks to improve the standard of education in a barbaric and inconsiderate manner and processes. Thousands of Grade R Teachers are literally unemployed in South Africa, at least 11900 Strugglers with Diploma in Grade R Qualifications are without jobs and most are embedded with trauma and depression as a result of education and economic inefficiency. SGB educators still earn from R2500 - 5000 for the past 10 years, without proper placement and with no benefits whatsoever. No maternity leave, which means the SGB teachers in question must appoint a teacher for a period of maternity leave and pays the teacher from her own stipend. We have teachers who laboured for 8 to 26 years, teaching our children without UIF and Pension fund contribution. 

Parents who cannot afford to pay school fees must apply to the SGB for conditional, partial or full exemption from paying school fees. Application forms can be obtained from the SGB through the principal of a school. This is instituted by the Department of Education, and it is completely unacceptable to demand a fee for this process from parents who are already unemployed. To make matters worse, the principal withholds term reports from parents who owe school fees.  Let's work together to put pressure on DBE to intervene and ensure that parents and children who cannot afford to pay school fees are granted exemption forms without having to pay. DBE also has to intervene and ensure the water issue at the school is sorted, let's preserve the dignity of the children.  References [1] Information for parents and guardians: school fees and exemption. Department of Basic Education. 2025. https://www.education.gov.za/Informationfor/ParentsandGuardians/SchoolFees.aspx

In October 2023, the City of Ekurhuleni opened selected libraries every Saturday to help students during exam season. While this was a great move, opening libraries for four extra Saturdays, each for only five hours, is not enough. Learners need consistent access to library resources to support their learning throughout the year, especially since many learners in townships face harsh conditions at home that are not conducive to effective studying. In townships, low-income families live in one-room rentals where everyone is trying to go about their day—cooking, watching TV, and making noise. This makes it hard for learners to focus on their homework and study [1].   The distractions don’t stop there. With neighbours running businesses from their yards and pavement,  and the constant noise of taxis and weekend parties, studying can feel nearly impossible [1]. Libraries serve as safe spaces where learners study away from turbulent homes and townships [2]. As Lunga Nqadolo from The Bookery points out, “Libraries are not just about books; they’re also spaces for kids to do homework and join reading groups and other activities. This early exposure helps them succeed in school” [3]. Libraries provide students access to a wide range of books, reference materials, research databases, and online resources [4]. After reading rates among Grade 4 learners dropped by at least 18% following the COVID-19 pandemic [5], it’s clear that we need to do more to support learning outside the classroom.  The Department of Basic Education is using its R48.7 million education infrastructure budget to build new schools and fix infrastructure [3], public libraries must also step up and provide more resources and study spaces for students. Our kids’ futures depend on it. Let’s push the Mayor of Ekurhuleni and the Divisional Head of Libraries and Information Services to open libraries on Saturdays and extend their hours to 4 PM. Our students deserve this support—let’s work together to make it happen! You can find a list of libraries within the City of Ekurhuleni and their closing and opening times here: https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/for-me/services/libraries/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHt0BBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdXHsihpEH_hdAjBcYGJLnKS1iylL8TcPpSJJ0FHsCeFG6E9wU4C0aNXyA_aem_sT6cDA7HPRKHiYXf6FVhHQ References [1] Assisting Grade 12 learners in township schools to perform optimally: A case study in the Tshwane South District of Gauteng Province, Mahlatini Mbuyisa for Unisa, November 2016. [2] A library changed my life, William Gumede for University of Witswatersrand, 9 March 2021. [3] The Education Minister promised all schools would have a library by 29 November - but there’s no chance that deadline will be met, Sonia A. Rao for GroundUp, 21 September 2021. [4] Assessing the Correlation Between School Resource Utilization and Learners’ Success in South African Public Education: A Case of Limpopo Province, Mmbengeni Victor NetshidzivhanI for International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, January 2024. [5] Background Report for the 2030 Reading Panel, Nic Spaull, 2023. 

We cannot afford any cuts in our Education budget, in fact we, as the Western Cape Education Crisis Committee, want more money and resources to be allocated to ensure Free Good Quality Decolonized Education. 

“I am a college student, and I have been studying for three years, including in-service training. I applied for a diploma from the Department of Education last year so I can graduate this year. My application has been on the verification process for a long period, and I will miss graduation because the department hasn't finished verifying my application 💔 They told me during a telephone conversation that they don't have the papers to print the diplomas, so they buy them overseas. This is a story of a thousand young people in SA, and we have no voice, some have waited for 5 years, and some even passed away without receiving their diploma’s” - an affected student.   References [1] Questions NW3395 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. By PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/20482/ [2] Examination certificate backlog challenges and process: Department, Umalusi and State Information Technology Agency briefings. By PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/24019/ [3] Six years in limbo - Elangeni TVET college students miss out on jobs while waiting for qualification studies. By Naledi Sikhakhane for Daily Maverick. 14 February 2024. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-14-six-years-in-limbo-elangeni-tvet-college-students-miss-out-on-jobs-while-waiting-for-qualification-certificates/ [4] Taletso TVET college students complain about delay in the issuing of certificates, SABC News. 15 May 2023. https://youtu.be/Q9RwfsM2FYQ?si=VtUZwSTD2AZgVFHD

* ELEMENTARY PHASE EDUCATION IS BEING DECLARED THE NO.1 PRIORITY IN SOUTH AFRICA! * ELEMENTARY PHASE EDUCATION IS THE   INCEPTION IN HUMANS LIFE! * ELEMENTARY PHASE EDUCATION IS THE INITIATOR OF THE ECONOMY & GDP OF OUR COUNTRY! * ELEMENTARY PHASE EDUCATION DETERMINES AN INCREASE TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND PASS RATE; BE IT IN GRADE ONE(1) TO GRADE TWELVE (12)!

Every South African is affected by an ECD | Grade R Teacher one way or the other; in a positive way of Education. These Practitioners | Teachers are very important and critical to the upbringing and grooming of our children with special skills imparted on infants at a preparatory stage, in which is a critical state in the life of a human being. We always ask a similar question: “Why are teachers underpaid and with less benefits while they produce all careers such as Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Social Workers, Police, Public Servants, Surgeons, Scientists, Corporate Business, Politicians, and more. It is well known that public servants such as teachers; must be well taken by the government after adhering pension. But it is not the case with the Grade R Teachers; the Ministry of Education is alleged to recompense or pay all pension teachers a once off payment for only two years of all the years they worked and without a government pension contribution. Justice for Workers and South African Early Childhood Development Teachers Union (SAECDTU) asks for your partnership and solidarity in this noble and matter of National Interest. We cannot allow the government’s maladministration and day-light robbery of hard earned monies of trusted servants (Teachers) who are responsible to care for our children on a daily basis for at least 8-12 hours. I have signed this petition already; join thousands of South Africans who advocates for justice. 

To unlock young children's' full potential, they need nurturing care across five key areas, as early as the first 1 000 days of their lives: nutrition; early learning; health; caregiving; and safety and protection. These forms of care lay an essential foundation for lifelong learning, well-being, and success. All young children have a right to access these quality services, whether at home with their families, at early learning programmes, at health clinics, or in other settings. Caring for young children is one of the most powerful investments the South African government can make. But, for too long, the government has neglected young children, and the parents, caregivers, and ECD practitioners who nurture them.  The amount the government spends on young children is not enough: children aged zero to five make up 10% of the population yet, in 2021/22, less than 2% of total government spending went to early learning, family support and early nutrition interventions for children in this age group. Families who take care of children at home do not get proper support. The health sector has not fulfilled its mandate to enable parents and caregivers to provide nurturing care. Many children without birth certificates cannot access the Child Support Grant, and when children have access to the Child Support Grant, it is not enough to cover nutritious food, let alone other essentials such as clothing.    Currently, only a third of children aged three to five have access to an early learning programme (such as a creche, nursery school, or playgroup). Even where children do access early learning programmes, practitioners often struggle to provide nutritious food, adequate infrastructure, and age-appropriate stimulation for learning, with the subsidy from the government frozen at just R17 per eligible child per day since 2019. This needs to change if we are committed to the just, equal, and caring society we strive to become.

As learners return to class, RISE Mzansi calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise, among other issues, School Safety during this year’s State of Nation Address (SONA). In 2015, the National Schools Safety Framework was launched to guide the Department of Basic Education, schools, districts and provinces to ensure a common understanding of the extent of school violence and provide evidence on how to mitigate it. The plan to work with SAPS and the Department of Social Development (DSD) to protect learners and combat social ills, has had little effect as South Africans see a rise in violence at schools and teenage pregnancies which saw an increase from 90 000 in 2022 to 150 000 in 2023 [1]. From January to September 2023, there were 27 murders, 59 attempted murders, 707 assaults and shockingly 229 rapes [2] on at educational facilities, contributing to the rise in pregnancies and dropout rate for adolescent girls. If you sign this petition you are helping us get a step closer to ensuring that schools are a safe learning environment for parents and teachers. References [1] SAPS, 2023. Crime statistics. https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php [2] SABC News, 2023. Adolescent/ Teenage Pregancy in South Africa. https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/infographic-adolescent-teenage-pregnancy-crisis-in-south-africa/#:~:text=Current%20statistics%20on%20adolescent%2Fteenage,the%202022%2F2023%20financial%20year.

If the President and other politicians respect our democracy, constitution, and independence of the public broadcaster, why support this Bill? We are currently in the lead-up to elections, and media outlets will be sharing important election updates from various political parties with us. This highlights the importance of the SABC as a national broadcaster. With all these 2024 election activities set to happen, the new SABC Bill that is currently before the PPCC is being rushed to be passed into law, raising concerns. Why the rush? If the Bill is passed in its current state, the Minister will have powers to influence the news and content the SABC covers, similar to the Hlaudi era.  During the Hlaudi era, we saw how the SABC news was captured. The firing of journalists, the meddling of SABC operations, and widespread censorship all affected the Public Broadcaster, causing us to lose trust in it. We, as the SOS Coalition, were at the forefront of fighting to protect the independence and integrity of the SABC then, as we are now. To opt-in to receiving more campaign information from SOS, click on this link: https://forms.gle/s775kMfwKj7epE5J9  The Bill should help with the ongoing challenges at the SABC, grant the SABC greater independence from political interference, bolster its ability to hold the government accountable and introduce a sustainable funding model. However, it has clauses which do the opposite. Given this and the rush to have the Bill passed, concerns regarding the exploitation of the public broadcaster to favour certain political parties over others in the lead-up to the elections are growing. This is why we need your help to protect the SABC from politicians with ulterior motives. We are calling for #HandsOffSABC. The public broadcaster needs to remain independent and impartial in its election’s coverage. The Bill threatens this independence and is, therefore, a threat to our democracy. To opt-in to receiving more campaign information from SOS, click on this link: https://forms.gle/s775kMfwKj7epE5J9