No Grade One classes for children who did not attend ECD at registered institutions

Speaking at Mpumelelo Primary School in Mpopoma after awarding the school the Secretary’s Merit Award for 2017, Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango announced that starting next year, children who do not attend Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes at registered institutions will no longer be able to go for Grade One.

Said Dr Utete-Masango:

Because so many parents have turned out here today, I want to say this very clearly so that those who did not know will no longer use ‘I did not know’ as an excuse. Do not take your children to bogus ECD centres. These ones that have sprouted around cities that are not registered are causing problems. They are so cunning and inviting and purport to be elitist and uphold so called high standards like being English speaking only institutions. Be warned! Children will not proceed to grade one. They will need to go to a conventional institution and start from the beginning, at ECD like everybody else. Imagine your child at seven or eight joining four-year olds in the ECD A class because of their parents’ decision.

More: Herald