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The lobby group, Real Reform for ECD, says the recently released Thrive by Five Index is South Africa’s first nationally representative survey of preschool children, which provides a barometer for child development outcomes for children ages 4-5.
The organisation says the Index itself is impressive and much needed, however, the results were grim.
The Thrive by Five Index survey was initiated by First National Bank and Innovation Edge, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education.
It assessed over 5000 children, and found, among others, that 65% of them aged 4-5 who are attending Early Learning Programmes were failing to thrive.
Other findings were that 55% of children attending ELP's were not able to do the learning tasks expected of children their age, with 28% of them falling far behind the expected standard.
The Thrive by Five Index partnership called for urgent collective action to decrease the performance gap between young children in the richest and poorest households at the point of entry into school.
Reacting to the survey findings, Real Reform ECD, says the Index bolsters reports that activists have been highlighting for years: that Early Childhood is the single greatest opportunity to invest in human development, and children across the country are suffering the consequences of a lack of investment and support.
"Our failures will stay with us for years to come. The Index shows that 2/3rds of our young children are failing to thrive and are unlikely to achieve their potential. Furthermore, the differences in developmental outcomes are not arbitrary, with stark differences between poorer children and their wealthier peers," the lobby group said.
"These barriers are difficult to remediate, and in a country such as ours most children who experience early challenges will never realise their right to life and to development as they are not receiving the support required to thrive within the education system and beyond."
"For the first time, we have the data we need to get the country behind the importance of quality, inclusive and holistic early childhood development services. It is an immense moral failing that we allow the brilliance of our youngest children to be squandered," Real Reform ECD said.
It has called on the Department of Basic Education to do what is necessary to respond.
