a) During the Basic Education Budget Vote 14 debate for the 2019/2020 financial year, it was indicated that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has committed to developing a comprehensive plan to ensure a phased-in and systematic relocation of the responsibility and leadership for ECD. It was further indicated that this comprehensive plan will include the provision of two years of compulsory ECD prior to Grade 1; as well as the provision of Early Childhood Development (ECD) for 0-4-year-olds. Finally, the Department committed to the costed plan being finalised by March 2020.
The development of these plans is based on two principles:
b) The detailed plan for institutionalising the abovementioned high-level objectives is still being developed.
c) The DBE is working towards finalising a detailed, costed plan by March 2020, while at the same time beginning preparations for implementation.
d) The cost will be clarified through the detailed, costed plan.