FNB carried out various surveys in 2020, where 8,500 ECD centres were surveyed, and 4,500 ECD centres responded. In our April 2020 survey, 68% were worried they would not be able to reopen after lockdown, due to the following factors:
This left most ECD operators unable to pay salaries and operating costs. A consequence of having to close due to the lack of financial support to the ECD centres meant there was a 42.5% job loss, with an overall estimated 100,000 ECD jobs lost.
An immediate ramification of this is that 166,105 children were thus unable to attend ECD centres that had closed, and 1,8 million children were at risk of losing their ECD place if ECD centres were unable to reopen.
In the face of these challenges, ECD operators displayed remarkable tenacity and commitment to children while they were closed, with 53% managing to support parents to continue early learning activities at home. 17% managed to provide food to children and community members. ECD centres are often the heart and soul of a community.
Covid-19 has had a hugely detrimental effect on our ECD centres nationally. Children and ECD employee's holistic well-being (physical, emotional, social and mental), have been severely hampered. The lag effect of Covid-19 will take years to overcome.
ENDS.
