Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is guided by the question: what is done to sustain early childhood
development (ECD) in South Africa? The research is conducted in is selected
rural areas in Namaqualand and the Karoo. A selection of ECD centres is
taken as the study material. In depth interviews and workshops were
conducted with various role-players connected to ECD to provide case
material for analysis. Apart from the findings of this research the study
concludes with a number of recommendations of how to address questions of
sustainability, self-reliance and development of these centres and the
communities they are located in. The study is contextualised within the
situation of wide-spread and ingrained poverty amongst the communities
living in rural areas in South Africa. The study pleas for explicit educational
policy reforms, a stronger role to be played by government institutions on all
levels and by community institutions such as churches, the empowerment of
. women and the organisational reform of ECD centres. The overall theme is
that the education of young people is paramount to the development of
communities. The self-reliance of the centres is primarily depended on the
sustainability of community life as a network of social and economic relations.
The first chapter introduces the research problem, the reasons why this study
is deemed necessary and a framework of the research process. It includes a
description of the context and methodology of the study.
The second chapter outlines the concepts of self-reliance, development and
sustainability from the point of view of the progressive and participatory
paradigms, the basic requirements for sustainable development, such as
lifelong learning for all people and the interdependencies that enhances
progress and development.
Chapter three is devoted to Early Childhood Development (ECD). A historical
overview and the current status of ECD, including government policy, in South
Africa is presented. The gaps existing between the different echelons that are
directly or indirectly involved in ECD are identified. The fourth chapter deals with ECD sites. Their objectives and the benefits for
ECD education as well as care-taking strategies are described and
researched. The multidimensional purposes and tasks with respect to children
and parents as well as the community are especially highlighted.
Chapter five develops the integrating function of ECD sites within community
further. The focus is on the various interdependencies and relationships
between an ECD site and its environment. The role of parents, women and
their ties with ECD and local churches, especially within rural communities, is
analysed. Also, the wider community, the different organisations that has
relationships with ECD, the practical utility of networks, and the contribution of
government structures are dealt with.
Chapter six outlines the conditions that will enhance and enable an ECD site
to become more sustainable and self-reliant.
Finally, chapter seven proposes conclusions and recommendationsflowing
from this study. The most basic condition is education and learning. The idea
of a culture of lifelong learning for all is stressed and it is proposed that this
should start at the youngest possible age. ECDs should therefore have a
strong impact on learning. The main contributors to this process are women,
local churches, the different tiers of government and lastly, funding
organisations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie word gelei deur die vraag: wat word gedoen om die
volhoubaarheid van vroeë kinderontwikkeling (ECD) in Suid-Afrika te
verseker? Die navorsing is in geselekteerde landelike gebiede van
Namakwaland en die Karoo uitgevoer. 'n Seleksie van ECD sentrums is as
studiemateriaal gebruik. In diepte onderhoude en werkswinkels is onderneem
met verskeie rolspelers in ECD om toepaslike gegewens vir ontleding te
verskaf. Afgesien van die bevindinge van die ondersoek wat beskryf word,
kom die studie tot gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings oor hoe om die
volhoubaarheid, selfvoorsiening en ontwikkeling van hierdie sentrums en die
gemeenskappe waarin hulle gevestig is, te verseker. Die ondersoek is
gekontekstualiseer binne die situasie van wydverspreide en ingegroeide
armoede in die gemeenskappe van landelike gebiede in Suid-Afrika. Dit lewer
'n pleidooi vir uitdruklike opvoedkundige beleidshervormnings, 'n sterker rol
deur regeringsinstansies op alle vlakke en deur gemeenskapsinstellings soos
kerke, die bemagtiging van vroue en die organisatoriese hervorming van ECD
sentrums. Die algehele tema is dat die opvoeding van jong mense
allesoorheersend is in die ontwikkeling van gemeenskappe. Die
selfvoorsiening van hierdie sentrums is primêr afhanklik van die
volhoubaarheid van die gemeenskapslewe as 'n netwerk van sosiale en
ekonomiese verhoudings.
Die eerste hoofstuk stel die navorsingsprobleem, die redes waarom die
ondersoek as noodsaaklik beskou word en 'n raamwerk vir die
navorsingsproses bekend. Dit sluit in 'n beskrywing van die konteks en
metodologie van die studie.
Die tweede hoofstuk bied 'n uiteensetting van die begrippe selfvoorsiening,
ontwikkeling en volhoubaarheid. Dit word gedoen vanuit die oogpunt van
progressiewe en deelnemende paradigmas. Verder word die basiese
vereistes vir volhoubare ontwikkeling, soos lewenslange leer vir alle mense en
die interafhanklikhede wat vooruitgang en ontwikkeling sal verhoog, aangedui. Hoofstuk drie is gewy aan vroeë kinderontwikkeling (ECD). 'n Historiese
oorsig en die huidige stand van ECD, insluitende die owerheidsbeleid, in
Suid-Afrika word aangebied. Die gapings tussen die verskillende vlakke wat
direk of indirek betrokke is by ECDword uitgewys.
Die vierde hoofstuk handeloor ECD sentrums. Hulle doelstellings en die
voordele vir ECD opvoeding sowel as sorg strategieë word beskryf en
nagevors. Die multidimensionele oogmerke en take met verwysing na kinders
en ouers asook die gemeenskap word veral beklemtoon.
Hoofstuk vyf ontwikkel die integreringsfunksie van ECD verder. Die fokus is
die verskeie interafhanklikhede en verhoudings tussen 'n ECD sentrum en sy
omgewing. Die rol van ouers, vroue en hulle bande met ECD en plaaslike
kerke, veral in landelike gemeenskappe, word ontleed. Verder word ook
gekyk na die wyer gemeenskap, die verskillende organisasies wat in
verhouding staan met ECD, die praktiese waarde van netwerke en die bydrae
van die owerheid.
Hoofstuk ses gee 'n oorsig van die voorwaardes wat 'n ECD sentrum se
volhoubaarheid en selfvoorsiening sal verhoog en bemagtig.
Ten slotte stel hoofstuk sewe gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat uit die
studie spruit, voor. Die mees basies voorwaarde is opvoeding en leer. Die
idee van 'n kultuur van lewenslange leer vir almal word beklemtoon en dit
word voorgestel dat dit op die vroegs moontlike ouderdom 'n aanvang neem.
ECDs behoort daarom 'n sterk impak op leer te hê. Die hoof bydraers hiertoe
is vroue, plaaslike kerke, die verskillende vlakke van regering, en ten slotte
befondsingsorganisasies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51927 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Knaap, Margriet |
| Contributors | Groenewald, C. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 216 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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