Cape Town - Caught in a cycle of poverty, many crèches in impoverished areas have found themselves falling through the cracks of a well-intentioned Western Cape Department of Social Development policy.
With an emphasis on setting basic minimum standards, the department has put resources into a registration process over the past few years but, it seems, inequality persists.
According to Suzette Little, mayoral committee member for social development and early childhood development (ECD), “the department has exceeded its targets for the number of initiatives to help ECD centres become compliant so that they can register with the Western Cape Social Development Department”.
The department has also provided training to 165 ECD practitioners on the national norms and standards for these facilities.
But, say fieldworkers, it is a conundrum that further marginalises under-resourced facilities.
“It is important that there are norms and standards,” says Leanne Keet, who heads NGO Masikhule, “but achieving optimal learning environments for children in impoverished areas and informal settlements remains an ideal out of their reach due to financial, infrastructural and environmental issues.
“Many principals do not have the financial means to upgrade the facilities.”
Without the upgrade, they cannot register and cannot get access to government funding, she says.
The crèche principals say they are not able to charge more than R100 to R200 a month in fees. Abongile Maneli, who stays in Barcelona informal settlement and has two small children, says: “For most of us who are unemployed, even R100 a month for fees is money we can’t easily find.”
Keet says there also do not seem to be “sufficient departmental and municipal staff to ensure that clearance certificates can be issued timeously, with registration taking between three to five years”.
Professor Eric Atmore, founding director of the Centre for Early Childhood Development, said:
“One solution is massive government investment in ECD infrastructure. Government supports multi-national companies with subsidies and tax concessions, bails out SAA and other state-owned entities to the tune of more than R4 billion, but does not support infrastructure development for ECD centres.”
When choosing an ECD centre for your own child, or evaluating one for a different purpose, the following are useful questions:
Is the site fenced?
Is it clear of health and safety hazards outside?
Is the structure safe?
Is the building ventilated?
Is the site safe inside?
Does it have a fire extinguisher?
Does it have an emergency contact list?
Is the site well maintained and clean?
Is there enough space for children to play outside?
Is there a separate kitchen or cooking area?
Is there running water or access to clean water?
Are there sufficient toilet facilities?
Is there a special nappy changing area for sites that have infants and toddlers?
Is there a first aid box?
Is there a sick bay?
How many meals are provided per day?
Are there snacks?
Is the menu displayed?
Is the food properly stored?
Are the meals and snacks nutritious?
What is the main energy source for cooking?
Do you know the qualifications of the staff members and have you observed them interacting with the children?
Cape Times