Johannesburg – True Reform of the ECD welcomed the allocation of a budget of R10 billion for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program.
The allocation on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2025 was South Africa's largest investment in the ECD.
“This is more than a budget, and it's a powerful step towards justice and equity for children who have been left behind for a long time,” said the ECD true reform.
“We look forward to paying tribute to all role players who have contributed to recognizing ECD as a government priority and supporting our efforts to make the most of this historic opportunity.”
ECD investments include:
ECD grants increased the range of grants to R9.9 billion, increased the value of centre and non-center grants for R24 and R9 per day, and expanded the 2026 and 2027 R131 million management to R2110 million ECD infrastructure grants, which increased the range of grants to 700,000 children by 2028, increased the value of centre and non-center grants for R24 and R9 per day, and expanded the 2026 and 2027 R131 million ECD infrastructure grants to R2110 million for additional funding for R336 million for 2025/26.
It is essential to increase both the value and reach of ECD subsidies. Evidence can only be obtained from programs that meet basic quality criteria, as it shows meaningful benefits for children.
Increasing the subsidy value from R17 to R24 per day in a center-based program will support increased investment in staff, nutrition delivery, equipment and essential infrastructure through the ECD program.
However, the value of grants should be further increased so that programs serving underprivileged communities can provide quality services and reduce fee reliance on.
The cost estimates that fully cover the costs of an overall, comprehensive, high-quality ECD program are from R36 per day to R90 or higher per child.
The 2021 ECD Census found that 90% of ECD practitioners and assistants earn less than the minimum wage, but the five index found that almost 60% of children participating in the ECD program did not meet the basic developmental milestones related to physical and cognitive growth and ability.
More broadly, 1.2 million children aged 3-5 years old have no access to ECD, but one in four South Africans occurred by age 5 due to malnutrition, failing to reach the lowest expected age height. Because the brain is built only once, early childhood stunting is associated with a lifetime reduction in cognitive development.
These factors place emphasis on a broader education system, where despite significant investments, childhood malnutrition and stunting development cannot overcome obstacles to learning to develop and malnutrition in childhood.
The shocking outcomes of eight of the 10th grade children who cannot read because of meaning are painful results.
Additionally, it should be noted that an increase in the value of child support to R560 per month, as announced in the March budget, is also retained.
All ECD stakeholders are currently responsible for working together to ensure that these funds are spent effectively.
We support the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive and the Ministry of Basic Education (DBE) efforts (DBE) to make the most of this historic opportunity.
The real reform of ECD called for maximum collaboration, as follows:
We will soon roll out an increase in center-based ECD grants to R24 per day and an increase in non-central-based grants to R9 per child per session, reverting this payment to 01 April 1, 2025. Link your ECD infrastructure grant allocation to Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive and partner with Sectoral Role Player to drive a scalable registration support solution that allows all ECD programs to register and access ECD grants. Ensure proper management capabilities and political prioritization to increase ECD registration and subsidies in all states. We will evaluate the various ways to support ECD programs in the most disadvantaged communities and implement early nutrition pilots that provide quality nutrition for attending children.
He said the true reform of the ECD supports the adoption of ECD expansion and funding plans in line with the state's strategy to ensure that 2.3 million children will benefit from ECD subsidies by 2030, as envisaged in DBE's 2030 strategy for the ECD programme.
“To ensure that this access is delivered at an appropriate level of quality, the national unified government must be committed to a continuous increase in the value of ECD subsidies, allowing it to fully cover the costs of the basic quality ECD program,” ECD's substantial reform states.
In the latest report revealing that 155 shocking children under the age of five have died of malnutrition since the beginning of the year, they said that true reforms to the ECD require urgent action.
The ECD substantial reforms stated that these measures must ensure that 2.2 million children eligible for child support will receive it, and that the grant will be extended to the second term of pregnancy and that the value will now increase to the R798 food poverty line per month.
