Abstract:
Systems ensure the attainment of goals at any educational level, including quality early
childhood education. Various studies focus on the benefits and components of quality early
childhood education, yet none emphasise systems that will support early childhood
development (ECD) centres in offering quality education. This study explored existing
systems that support ECD centres in providing quality education to young children. The
study adopted a qualitative research approach and collected data through document
analysis and face-to-face interviews with eight participants purposively selected from four
ECD centres situated in Pretoria. The data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed
that national policies, internally generated policies and financial systems support the
participating centres in offering quality education. However, many of the participants did
not know the existing national policies. The findings also revealed that ECD centres in the
township area do not have financial systems to help them provide quality education. The
study recommends effective implementation strategies to foster awareness and enforce
strict adherence to government policies at ECD centres. The study contributes to awareness
and adherence to quality early childhood education by suggesting that ECD centres,
principals and teachers should engage in relevant and practical training on effectively
establishing systems from the available national education policies that will help them offer
quality education.
CONTRIBUTION : This study adds to the body of knowledge by filling in the gaps on how ECD
principals and teachers understand national policies and translate them into systems that
assist them in managing their centres on a daily basis. The novelty of this study is the empirical
input from different disciplines (Early Childhood Education and Management and Policies
Studies), in a way that enables one to comprehend the role of educational management and policies studies at the early childhood learning centres in South Africa, which is the emphasis
of the Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa.
