Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for urgent and sustained investment in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), warning that Africa’s long-term growth and equality depend on how countries support children in their earliest years.
Speaking at the Southern and East Africa Regional Childcare Conference, co-hosted with the World Bank, Gwarube stressed that inequalities in education outcomes begin long before children enter formal schooling.
To illustrate this, she described the contrasting experiences of two children — one who benefited from early learning opportunities and support, and another who did not — noting that disparities in opportunity, rather than ability, are the primary drivers of educational success.
Gwarube revealed that more than 60% of South African children are not developmentally on track by the age of five, while around 7% suffer from stunting due to malnutrition. These early challenges, she said, significantly undermine children’s ability to learn and succeed later in life.
“Learning does not begin in Grade 1. It begins in the earliest years of a child’s life. If we fail to act during this critical window, we entrench inequality before formal education even begins,” she said.
The minister reaffirmed the government of national unity’s commitment to strengthening ECCE, highlighting several key interventions already underway. These include the registration of more than 13,300 early childhood development centres within a single year — surpassing national targets — and the allocation of R10 billion over three years to support ECD subsidies.
Government is also working with private sector partners and philanthropic organisations to raise R496 million aimed at expanding access to quality childcare, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Gwarube emphasised that childcare is not only a social priority but also an economic necessity. Access to affordable and reliable childcare, she noted, enables more women to participate in the workforce, contributing to broader economic growth and stability.
She further called for stronger regional collaboration, stressing that no country can tackle early childhood development challenges in isolation. The conference, she said, provides a platform for countries across Southern and East Africa to share best practices, align on quality standards, and build scalable, inclusive childcare systems.
With Africa’s young population presenting a significant demographic opportunity, Gwarube warned that this potential can only be realised through deliberate and sustained investment in children’s early years.
“The measure of our success must be the number of children who arrive at school ready to learn, to thrive, and to succeed,” she said.
