Ms Lineo Toolo, the Deputy Director of Children’s Rights and Responsibilities in the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has advised that it is now one of the departments, alongside the Departments of Social Development, Education, Health and others responsible for the collective planning, implementation of and monitoring of the national ECD programme provided for in terms of the National Integrated Plan for ECD (the NIP for ECD).

Whilst the Departments of Health, Education, Social Development and others is responsible for the implementation of ECD services, the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities will be responsible for oversight – monitoring and evaluation of the fulfilment of the role assigned to the other departments.

These lead departments have prioritised the review and revision of the current NIP for ECD which will take place shortly.

We look forward to bringing you further news of this process as it unfolds as well as to bringing you further information about the planned consultations with civil society as part of the review and redesign of the new NIP for ECD.