By Nomzamo Mnguni & Sompisi Ntuli
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education hosted the G20 Provincial Indaba in the International Convention Centre in Durban this week. This is part of a series of G20 events that are taking place across the country as South Africa is the current chair of some of the twenty biggest economies in the world.
“The G20 gives us the opportunity to integrate global insights and integrate global best practices,” said KZN Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka.
South Africa, the biggest and most industrialised economy in Africa, is the only country in the continent that is part of the grouping.
The theme for the conference was “Exploring current opportunities for delivering Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for the future in resource-constrained environments.”
While South Africa may be the most advanced country in Africa in many ways, inequalities hinder proper childhood care, education and developments in many corners of society.
According to the KZN Department of Education, the province currently has 4245 public pre-primary schools. This, however, doesn’t give the full picture as while there are successes, challenges exist too which the government says need collaboration to be resolved. “We need to have a public-private partnership because the resources that the government has are not enough,” Hlomuka continued.
Teachers say such meetings aren’t completely helpful.
“As it stands, I’m not permanently employed, it really frustrates me. The G20 meetings won’t help, we now need implementation,” said Nokubonga Mhlongo, Grade R educator, at Sobakha Pre-Primary School.
Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Regina Mhaule believes that solutions discussed in such meetings can be action in schools.
“It’s time for implementation, action, action, action,” said Mhaule.
