Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Quality early childhood development (ECD) is crucial for protecting children
against a multitude of socio-economic challenges such as poor living standards, lack of
education, and substandard healthcare. Furthermore, research has revealed that
educational resources used at ECD centres enrich the all-round well-being of young
children. Despite these findings, the provision of educational resources in the ECD learning
environment has received little or no attention at national and local levels.
AIM : This study aimed to explore registered ECD centres to understand the available
infrastructure resources and how they are used to promote quality early childhood care
and education (ECCE).
SETTING : A sample of eight participants (four ECD centre principals and four practitioners)
from four registered ECD centres were purposively selected in suburban and township
areas of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
METHODS : An interpretative, qualitative multiple case study was used and the Woodhead
quality framework for ECD centres was used as a guide for this study. Data were collected
through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation and field notes.
RESULTS : The findings revealed that practitioners know how the use of learning resources
improve young children’s growth and development. However, the township centres have
fewer infrastructure resources that promote quality ECCE because of the dire socioeconomic
conditions of the parents.
CONCLUSION : The lack of modern and age-appropriate play equipment at township
registered centres indicated that the (township) practitioners are not able to use such equipment, even though they are aware of their benefits in promoting quality ECCE.
Hence, quality ECCE is not equally available. The great equaliser, called ECCE, is merely
a smokescreen.
