Each country has its own curriculum, and so does South Africa their curriculum is called Curriculum and Assessment Policy (CAPS). South Africa has a huge potential for schooling, and it is a lubricating offer to start preschool as they have a huge population of students.
There is a global consensus among education stakeholders that early childhood education sets a foundation for children’s development, learning, and future achievements. The structure of formal education and training constitutes two years of pre-primary education which is regarded as preparation for primary education and plays a very important while setting curriculum.
The early years of life are critical for the development of a child’s mental, physical, emotional, and social potential. Children below 3 years are active and learn by imitation and emulation. It is in preschool education that children first experience a structured setting with the teachers and other children. The curriculum for 1-3 years old children focuses on multi-sensorial experiential learning and offers a hands-on play-based program. The typical playschool material is made from shells, beads, wood, and paper. Children play in the school playground and conduct activities in sand and water, messy play, swimming, and physical education sessions.
Early childhood development (ECD) is imperative for the child as it is the first step towards entering the world of knowledge. The main purpose is to prepare the children mentally, physically, and socio-emotionally for formal schooling and to prevent poor performances and early dropouts. They can think critically, work collaboratively and act boldly- a skill set up for the 21st century.
South African public lacks basic education skills and knowledge as compared with other countries around the world, as their standard of education is not up to mark, there is a huge opportunity for growth in the education market in this country.
As education is not up to the mark, education has been made compulsory till Grade 9 till the age of 15 years, so that they get the basic education. There are mainly 2 components that decide the education: Pre-Grade R up to the age of 4 years and Grade R Programs for 5-6 years old. Preschool curricula in South Africa are as follows –
• Reading
• Writing
• Language
• Mathematics
• Life Skills
• Technology
• Art and Culture
The South African National Curriculum Framework from Birth to 4 years (NCF) shows that 1000 days after birth is very crucial for the child’s learning as they are extremely sensitive and easy to accept early learning and development because of environmental effects.NCF’s main aim is to focus on the curriculum and provide basic education by laying a strong base in the early years of growth.
ECD program develops the child’s learning overall by taking into consideration all the factors and protecting the child’s right to education and ensuring their learning and develop them emotionally, physically, and socially. ECD program is developed in such a manner that child enjoys learning through different techniques and tools and increasing the students thinking capabilities also developing them overall as a good human being.
ECD includes the following rights for South African children –
• Physical danger protection
• Healthy eating habits, nutritious food along with healthcare
• Immunization
• Teaming with the adult with whom they should be bound and open with their doubts and clarifications so that they understand them and help them with the solutions.
• Things around touch, feel sense, taste, smell, and many more.
• Explore the learning around and grab the opportunity for development.
• Language understanding – Sign language stimulation.
• Enhancing their motor, cognitive, language, and other skills to be more innovative.
• Independency development – Taking responsibility.
• Controlling emotions and feelings.
• Looking out for opportunities for growing themselves in and around the environment.
At schooling, their following development takes place, and they further enjoy learning –
• Motor skills
• Language skills
• Mastery skills
• Pre-writing and pre-reading skills
• Learning through action and reading sign languages.
• Developing cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills and taking up challenges.
Preschool builds the child’s future and makes them learn a lot of new things and explore all possible techniques and skills.The Preschool curriculum is the base for children to develop order, coordination, concentration, and independence.A preschool understands that internal satisfaction drives the child’s curiosity and interest and results in joyous learning that is sustainable over a lifetime. Preschool curriculum plays a very crucial role in the child’s early development where each learning will develop his new skills. We are pre-school consultants offer services and solutions for nursery school curriculum south Africa and Preschool Curriculum South Africa
While planning a curriculum, a detailed study must be done and taken into consideration every aspect, as this is the first step for their growth in learning and developing their skills.
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