S
outh Africa sits on the cusp of a new dispensation. The
National Development Plan (NDP)1
recognises investment in
early childhood development (ECD) and education as central
in building a more developed and productive society by 2030. The
prioritisation of ECD in the NDP provides an opportunity to fashion
the next generation of South Africa’s citizens, and improve the
nation’s economic, social and political environment.
Over the next 17 years, South Africa has a unique opportunity to
do things differently, and to ensure that children born in 2013 will
be far better equipped for a productive adult life by 2030. At the
same time, a child rights lens demands a focus beyond children’s
potential contribution to the adult workforce, and the recognition,
promotion and nurturing of their intrinsic value and abilities as
young citizens. How do we seize the opportunity? And where do
we start?