Project 1- Early Childhood Development (ECD) Teacher Capacity Building and Enrichment Programme for Qualified and in-training Practioners

The Trust has found that a gap exists between the theoretical training provided by current FET training institutions in the Garden Route area and its practical implementation. Training in a second or third language, a lack of educational resources as well as catering for the needs of multilingual learners, often add to teachers’ difficulties. Teachers receive in-centre training and follow up on-site mentoring in the ECD Teacher Capacity Building programme, registered by the Department of Social Development. Training is practical and delivered in Xhosa and Afrikaans to support teacher success.

The program is aligned with the National Early Learning Development Standards (NELDS) as specified by the DSD, as well as Curriculum and Policy Statements (CAPS), as specified by the Department of Education.

The workshops focus on developing skills that enable teachers to successfully move the children through the required development components while maintaining the integrity of the quality of teaching and learning outcomes for preschool children. In addition these workshops also support implementing best operating practices back in the classroom. At present all preschools have received the master Annual ECD Implementation Plan manual in English and Afrikaans. Teacher progress is monitored via attendance registers and onsite mentoring reports. This project is on-going and is currently reliant on funding from the Department of Social Development. This funding ceases in March 2015. Further funding is required to translate the program into Xhosa and to provide on going training and development to ensure teachers improve their teaching skills thereby improving the quality of education young learners receive. Please contact Nicky Goodall should you be interested in supporting this valuable programme.