Have you always been interested to serve others, especially providing educational sources and nurturing children as the future pillars of the nation? Registering for this ECD Learnership might be an ideal move that you should consider to take. The exciting opportunity will expose you to the thrilling field of career where you can contribute to society’s growth in various sectors.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is the birth-to-school age (pre-school or crèche) phase. This is when children develop basic cognitive abilities, attitudes, and skills, shaping them for basic education and the rest of their lives. Due to its effect on later academic attainment and its role in achieving universal primary education (one of the Millennium Development Goals), the ECD is a primary concern of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the South African government.
The study has shown that successful ECD is connected to academic performance, employment opportunities, and national GDP. Poor ECD perceptions, particularly between birth and four years of age, may hinder the child’s subsequent cognitive growth. The Department of Basic Education wishes to extend access to ECD to deprived communities such as remote towns and marginal districts.
There are about 30,000 early childhood development practitioners according to “A plan to achieve universal coverage by 2030. There are approximately 210,000 professionals and teacher assistants in the ECD sector that need to be met by 2030 for the target of equal access. Early Childhood Development practitioners have been established within the ETDP market. The word “Educare” used historically to refer to learning services for children under the age of six; this is now replaced by Early Childhood Development.
Some of the duties of an Early Childhood Development professional performs include:
- Choosing the instructional content to be used in children’s education;
- Discussing the performance of the children with their parents;
- Helping the sick by first aid;
- Parent interviews, staff meetings, and committee meetings;
- Planning indoor and outdoor learning strategies for children;
- Promoting the production of the language through storytelling, role play (drama), songs, rhymes, and team discussions;
- Providing activities that help improve motor skills, social co-operative skills, trust, and understanding;
- Safeguarding the children’s development; and
- Staying in touch with parents to notify them if there is something wrong with the child (this may be an illness or mental problem).
To partake for this career, you are required to fulfill these basic requirements:
- You have to be able to interact well with children – individually and as a group;
- Have a good mindset;
- Be willing to communicate respectfully with parents;
- Universities may have different qualifications for ECD practitioners but a national senior certificate (matric) is a minimum basic prerequisite for a diploma or a degree program;
- There is a national NQF Level 5 certificate in Early Childhood Development offered at TVET universities;
- Some universities offer a postgraduate education certificate which covers grades R to 3;
- Another alternative is the Bachelor of Education degree (B. Ed) which trains an individual for a teaching career; and
- Certificate schemes still cater to people with national senior certificates and ECD experience.
However, we can understand how mind-belittling it is if none of those options are available for you. Luckily, there is an ECD Learnership Programme provided by GROW Educate Centres opens for recruitments for future teachers like you. If you have made up your mind to join this qualification scheme, continue to read the completed information that you might need to help increase your odds of being accepted for the role.
ECD Learnership Programme Overview
GROW Educare Centres is a non-profit organisation which operates a series of an early learning centre in developing communities throughout South Africa, each owned and operated independently. The company was specially established to develop ECD teachers, assisting them to provide specialised training which sets a new benchmark for children’s education. Its subsidiary company called the “GROW with Us Academy” in partnership with YES Youth Employment Service in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg plans to hold an ECD Learnership Programme.
The programme includes:
- The weekly preparation and professional development of ECD educators,
- Valuable job experience and leadership training at the Develop Educare Centre, and
- All while receiving a stipend from the Government of South Africa.
This opportunity is perfect for someone who is newly trained in ECD, self-motivated yet unemployed, and who wants to become the best early learning teacher possible. Fresh, novice ECD teachers need an advisor and mentor (preferably an ECD expert) plus skilled work experience to kick off their careers at a high-quality ECD centre. For a few lucky (and worthy) applicants that is what the program offers. It also facilitates a year-round intensive ECD early learning teacher preparation programme that will inspire you, improve you professionally, and bring you the work experience you deserve.
Note that only 45 positions are available for 2020 across Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, so make sure that you have what it gets to become part of the opportunity.
Eligibility Requirements
To get qualified for the learnership, you must meet certain basic requirements set out by the host company, including:
- You are an unemployed South African citizen age between 18 to 30 years old by the time of applying.
- You must not be enrolled in another learnership programme or higher educational institutions during the period of training.
- You are committed to taking the learnership programme full-time.
- You must have a minimum NQF Level 4 ECD/Educare qualification.
- You are committed to becoming the best ECD practitioner in the country.
- You can travel to the GROW Educare Centres office in Thornton (Cape Town), Midrand (Johannesburg), or Bulwer (Durban) for training once a week.
- Upon completing the training, you must be willing to work at any GROW Educate Center that has been allocated to you.
How to Apply
The application procedures can be done online. Click on one of these options based on your current domicile:
- Apply here for Johannesburg residents.
- Apply here for Cape Town residents.
- Apply here for Durban residents.
You will be asked to provide personal information and other details on your application form, which includes:
- Your full name
- Your email address
- Your phone number
- Your home address
- Your date of birth
- Your citizenship
- Your current employment status
- Your highest completed qualification (if possible)
- Your previous learnership experience
Next, you have to submit your latest Curriculum Vitae (CV), ID document, and qualification certificates via email at vasie@growecd.org.za. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend the interview. The learnership itself will commence on January 18th, 2021.
Closing Dates
The application is closed for the public on September 18th, 2020. Ensure that you have completed your application by the deadline. To avoid missing the closing dates, prepare the required documentation in advance, and apply early.
Contact Details
Should you have inquiries about the programme, or other technical difficulties faced during the application procedure, submit your questions via the listed phone number or email address below. Also, you can mail them to the available address at:
GROW Educare Centres Head Office
31 Thor Circle,
Viking Place, Thornton
Cape Town, Western Cape
South Africa
Contact: Sheilah Chikoki (Regional Implementation Manager)
Tel: 021 531 2134 / 067 701 9066
Email: infocpt@growecd.org.za
GROW Educare Centres Durban Office
272 Umbilo Rd,
Bulwer, Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
Contact: Tara Rosser (Regional Implementation Manager)
Tel: 067 758 2493
Email: infodbn@growecd.org.za
GROW Educare Centres Johannesburg Office
50 Tsessebe Cresent
Corporate Park South, Midrand
Johannesburg, Gauteng
South Africa
Contact: Shireen Miller (Regional Implementation Manager)
Tel: 084 677 0495
Email: infojhb@growecd.org.za
Official Website
For further information regarding the ECD Learnership Programme, visit Grow Educate Centres’ official website at www.growecd.co.za.