Blog

On 20 September 2025, Knysna Education Trust (KET) hosted its very first Advisory Board meeting, bringing together principals, practitioners, parents, and KET staff. The aim was simple yet vital: to create a platform where the voices of all stakeholders in early childhood development (ECD) can be heard, and solutions can be shaped collectively.  

It is important to note that the challenges and solutions shared during the Advisory Board meeting do not reflect the views of individual attendees alone. They represent collective themes that have emerged from ongoing conversations with parents, practitioners, and principals across the community.  

Parents’ Challenges 

Parents highlighted how unemployment and poverty create enormous barriers to children’s education. Many families struggle with fees, food, and even obtaining basic documents such as birth certificates, which prevents children from accessing grants or preschool. Alcohol abuse, peer pressure, and the lack of safe spaces for youth were also raised as pressing issues. 

Parents also spoke about: 

• Non-payment of fees, which affects the quality of education for all children. 

• Instability of teachers, with staff changes not always communicated. 

• Low parent involvement, with meetings and fundraisers poorly attended. 

• Misunderstandings around funding, as many believe government support covers all costs. 

Possible solutions: Expanding the Adopt a Child’s Education programme and extending bursary support for school fees; liaising with Home Affairs to assist parents in obtaining birth certificates and other required documentation; and supporting principals to strengthen parent engagement through targeted KET-developed communication resources that highlight the importance of ECD for school readiness, the negative impact of non-payment of fees on all children at a site, and the value of parents supporting their child’s learning both at home and through active participation in the ECD centre. 

Practitioners’ Challenges 

Practitioners often feel unheard and unsupported. Many experience uncertain salaries, lack of contracts, and sudden changes without communication. This instability not only causes demotivation but also high staff turnover. 

Possible solutions: Introducing an anonymous complaint platform for practitioners at KET-partner sites so that we can address issues through training; encouraging principals to hold weekly staff meetings; ensuring all practitioners receive proper contracts aligned with registration requirements; and supporting sites to strengthen sustainability by achieving WCED silver-level registration and accessing the ECD subsidy; motivating consistent fee payment from parents; building fundraising capacity; and connecting them to new networks of support.   

Principals’ Challenges 

Principals, meanwhile, spoke about the financial pressures of keeping preschools running when fees go unpaid. Many are forced to cover expenses from their own pockets, forfeiting their salary. They also face high teacher turnover due to poor pay, a lack of parental engagement, and fundraising struggles. 

Possible solutions: See the recommendations above on supporting site sustainability, which include providing principals with broader community fundraising support, directing KET’s bursary programme funds towards staff salaries where necessary, and strengthening parent campaigns to foster trust, transparency, and collaboration. 

Moving Forward Together 

This meeting was an important first step in creating an honest space where parents, practitioners, and principals can share concerns openly. It also reaffirmed that solutions are possible when we work together. By strengthening communication, supporting families, and improving financial sustainability, we can continue moving closer to our vision: children thriving and ready for school by age six.