Johannesburg – The early childhood development (ECD) sector believes it is once again the forgotten section of the education industry after it was not included in the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations to teachers and education staff, which kicked off this week.
Ntataise, one of the leading ECD training and mentoring organisations in South Africa, expressed its dismay at the decision not to include ECD practitioners and caregivers in the vaccination rollout.
Directors of Ntataise Sarah McGuigan and Puleng Motsoeneng, and trustee Jane Evans, conveyed their concern of being discriminated against, saying ECD practitioners are not seen as educators, yet they do the same work as primary and high school teachers for pre-school children.
“Pre-school practitioners and caregivers work directly with children in developing their minds in a specialised learning environment and in keeping them safe and protected from diseases.
“There seems to be no logic to the current decision that ECD providers, whose facilities at this stage fall under the Department of Social Development, and not yet the Department of Basic Education, are not eligible to be vaccinated under phase two of the rollout,” said McGuigan.
Evans said they had approached the ministers of social development and basic education.
“Because of lockdown, many parents or caregivers have lost their jobs and their incomes and cannot pay their children’s pre-school fees. This means they do not send their children to pre-schools.
“The preschool has insufficient funds to pay the practitioners and other staff members’ salaries. There are insufficient funds to buy food for the children who are attending preschool, and this is often the only meal many children receive a day. Despite this, practitioners come to work knowing they will not be paid and that despite their service to the communities in which they work, they are being denied vaccines in this phase,” said Motsoeneng.
Jennifer McQuillian of the South African Childcare Association penned an open letter to Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu pleading for ECD staff to be included in the vaccine programme.
“When we saw that teachers were in the next vaccination rollout there was much jubilation from the ECD sector. Our excitement was, however, short-lived.
This excludes teachers and support staff under the Department of Social Development. Sadly, we are not surprised as we have been here before,” reads her letter. McQuillian said they had to go to court twice during lockdown restrictions last year to have their centres opened.
“We surely deserve better. The young children in our care certainly deserve better. The most vulnerable in society are ignored, yet again.”
Spokesperson for the Department of Social Development Lumka Oliphant did not respond to questions sent to her at the time of going to press despite numerous follow-ups made to her.
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