EPWP early childhood development graduation ceremony

It is internationally recognised that actively supporting the development of children in their early years is the one of the best investments a country can make. In his most recent State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed the government to investing in early childhood development (ECD). The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been playing its part by partnering with the six Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the province to train students in ECD at Levels 1, 4 and 5.

In June 2019, 198 students who were funded by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) graduated from the West Coast College in Malmesbury after successfully completing an 18-month ECD learnership programme on Level 4 or 5. These graduates are all currently employed at crèches for children aged 0 – 4 years. The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) coordinates the EPWP in the Western Cape. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in pursuing a career in ECD, you can contact any of the six Western Cape TVET Colleges to enquire about ECD learnerships: West Coast College, Boland College, Northlink College, False Bay College, College of Cape Town, or South Cape College. To be accepted, you must be either working at or doing voluntary work at a registered crèche.