Social Development
With reference to the proposed migration of early childhood development (ECD) from the national Department of Social Development to the national Department of Basic Education as announced by the President in February 2019:
1. Since the Minister’s call on 5 October 2020 for clarification on the proposed migration, what developments have taken place;
2. whether she has received a response from her national counterpart; if so, what are the relevant details;
3. (a) to what extent will the migration of ECD to the provincial Department of Education have an impact on (i) the performance of the Province to support ECD centres, (ii) the learners attending ECD centres, (iii) ECD practitioners and (iv) NGOs and (b) what are the budgetary considerations of this proposed migration?
RESPONSE: (1)
- A Memorandum for Consideration by the Western Cape Cabinet on the transfer of the Early Childhood Development function from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Education, was completed. This served before Cabinet during the last week in October, and in-principle approval for the function shift was granted, with the proviso that all legally required processes would need to be completed before a proclamation by the Premier is issued to finalise the transfer. As such, cabinet indicated that the nationally proposed date for the finalisation of the shift by 1 April 2021 may not be feasible.
- Various engagements have been held between the Western Cape Department of Social Development and the Western Cape Department of Education to prepare for the shift.
- Key information was provided to the WCED (business architecture, staff scoping, strategic and annual performance plan)
RESPONSE: (2)
A communique from the Provincial MEC of Social Development and Education to the National Minister of Social Development and National Minister of Basic Education has been forwarded to communicate the Western Cape Cabinet resolution. The Province has not received any further correspondence in response.
RESPONSE: (3)
The province will still be able to continue with provision of services provided that existing contracts between funded social service organisations and partial care facilities are honoured and transferred. Meaningful and detailed consultation with the ECD sector has yet to take place.
A formal organisational design process is pending and formal consultations with unions will be required as part of this process.
The current business architecture for the ECD directorate that includes standard operating procedures for registration, funding, monitoring etc, should assist with the transition.
RESPONSE: (ii)
The transition will not significantly affect children in funded ECDs until or unless changes to existing processes are introduced by the department taking over the function. Further questions on this aspect would need to be directed to the WCED.
RESPONSE: (iii)
The transition will not significantly affect staff in funded ECDs until or unless changes to existing processes are introduced by the department taking over the function. Further questions on this aspect would need to be directed to the WCED.
RESPONSE: (iv)
If the current contracts (over 1 000) are honoured, there should be minimal changes for the transition period, but there may be further changes thereafter. Further questions on this aspect would need to be directed to the WCED.
RESPONSE: (b)
The budget will be R419 million to be transferred to department of Education.
