About Us

The Knysna Education Trust (KET)  is a registered Non-profit organisation which has been providing quality services to the young children of the Knysna communities since 1993. KET is the only organisation in the area  to focus exclusively on the upliftment of Early Childhood Education, and has significant experience working alongside and supporting the principals and teachers at the affiliated preschools.  KET has an excellent history of delivering on projects with maximum effect to the beneficiaries we serve.  Key focus areas are to ensure children leave preschool ready and able to excel at formal schooling, and to facilitate and support the transformation of informal child care centres, to registered ECD centres with well trained teachers.

KET applies a holistic approach to the young child's development, and implements programmes and services which ensure that children reach age appropriate developmental milestones physically, emotionally and cognitively. Nutritional support via feeding schemes is an ongoing project. Partnerships with local district health clinics, ensures a good referral system to minimise cases of stunting where malnutrition is identified. 

The quantity and quality of learning which a child retains in a classroom, is directly related to the capability of the teacher to deliver lessons in such a way that real learning is taking place. KET provides ECD practitioners with skills development training needed to ensure capable confident teachers in the classroom. All programmes are aligned with the National Development plan and the National Curriculum Frameworks.

To support a child's development in the home parents are guided in how to best continue their child's development in the home. Regular parent training and information sessions equip parents to better deal with this often-daunting task.

In order to ensure that an ECD centre is well equipped, safe, and provides a positive learning environment, it is vital they obtain registration with the various government departments, and remain compliant to the norms and standards. On-site support and mentorship forms the cornerstone of the work done by KET, assisting Principals and governing bodies to obtain formal registrations.

 Click here to read more about the Knysna Education Trust in our downloadable PDF document. 

Our Vision & Mission

Vision  

“Improving the quality of teaching, learning and development for young children.”

Mission

To improve the quality of early childhood education and learning for young children, the organisation will:

1. Provide certified Early Childhood Development and skills development training, to teachers.
2. Provide student teachers training in a model preschool environment.
3. Equip preschools with age and language appropriate educational equipment and learning tools.
4. Develop foundation mathematical concepts in children through the NUMICON mathematics programme.
5. Strengthen literacy acquisition and reading in children through the FONIX literacy programme.
6. Maintain nutritional support programmes to promote healthy physical development.
7. Maximise the first 1000 days development in a child’s life through practical caregiver and parent training.
8. Promote early childhood education for all children by facilitating a school fee payment support programme to qualifying parents.
9. Support preschools to obtain registration through the government departments.
10. Train and equip governing bodies to ensure sustainable and well run preschools.
11. Establish an ECD resource centre to support student teachers, principals and parents.

Why do we do this?

Numerous studies have confirmed that intervention at preschool age, not only carries the biggest return on investment, but is also the primary catalyst in reversing the poor national education statistics. It is unequivocally proven that children that develop fundamental language and mathematical concepts, and life skills during their preschool years, are better able to cope with all future learning.   

Worldwide research confirms unanimously, that children who attended preschools showed greater academic achievement in their later high school careers, fewer high school dropouts, less unemployment, higher earnings, fewer encounters with the criminal justice system and fewer teenage pregnancies, had steady jobs, did not need welfare grants and often owned their own homes.

Our Goals

Annually the Trust formulates a business plan with clear attainable goals. 2018 annual strategic goals will focus on:

1. Grow current in-centre NQF SETA accredited and certified ECD teacher training. - 20%
2. Extend DSD registered practical teacher training program to all teachers and care givers in the areas of Sedgefield, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, beyond affiliated preschools.
3. Scale up the essential triad of site learning programmes, FONIX, NUMICON & ECD Capacity Building for ECD centres to be distributed nationally.
4. Extend Stallar Reading Program to all Grade RR preschools.
5. Develop an ECD resource centre to include 10 Toy Libraries to strengthen and enrich learning opportunities in community preschools.
6. Establish nutritional support programmes in 25 most vulnerable community ECD centres.
7. Out-of-centre training to include community support and learning groups for Caregivers and young new mothers, to maximise “First 1000 days” of the young child’s development.
8. Expand the Adopt-A-Child’s-Education programme to 500 preschool children.
9. Continue parent training to support development of the child in the home.
10. Implement electronic data management system to streamline work processes, reduce costs and strengthen project monitoring and evaluation.
11. Extend social media platforms and website to build KET brand locally and internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Trust audited annually?

The Trust is annually audited by an independent auditor, Michaeledes & Co, registered accountants and auditors that have been in operation for 46 years.

Do the Trustees / Management Team benefit financially in any way?

No, the Trustees are all volunteers and meet monthly at a Trustee meeting, together with the Operations Director to review financials and project progress. The board of Trustees provides guidance, support and oversight to the operational team and Director.

What percentage of project costs is administrative/operational?

Currently administrative costs average between 15% to 20%, project dependant. Project costs are influenced by the resources needed to successfully implement the project or program.

The following factors all play a role in project/program costing:

• Size and complexity.

• Staff component required to successfully execute.

• Number of  training sessions required to achieve goals/outcomes and impact.

• Onsite coaching and mentoring requirements.

• Reporting and evaluation requirements.

• Accounting and administrative oversight.

• Project duration.

• Equipment and resources required.

Who are your beneficiaries?

The Trust provides services and support to informal care groups, and crèches in previously disadvantaged communities along the Garden Route from Sedgefield to Plettenberg bay. The primary focus is to move these facilities along the path from informal care centres, to become caring safe, and well run registered preschools.