DBE Launches National Registration Drive for Early Childhood Development Programs

The DBE reports that over 20,000 ECD programs currently operate outside the regulatory framework, affecting tens of thousands of young children.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has called on Early Childhood Development (ECD) operators nationwide to participate in its Bana Pele ECD Mass Registration Drive, aimed at registering unregulated ECD programs and expanding formal oversight across the sector.

The DBE reports that over 20,000 ECD programs currently operate outside the regulatory framework, affecting tens of thousands of young children. Most of these unregistered centers are in low-income areas, where children miss out on quality oversight, safety protocols, and potential funding, widening the gap in early learning opportunities.

Objectives and Benefits of the Registration Drive

The Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive aims to bring unregistered centers into the fold to ensure that every child in South Africa has access to quality early learning, a safe environment, and developmentally appropriate resources. The initiative focuses on several critical goals:

Enabling government oversight for centers caring for young children.

Supporting ECD programs to meet legal and safety requirements.

Increasing the number of ECD programs eligible for government subsidies for low-income households.

Streamlining the registration process to make it faster and less resource-intensive for officials, practitioners, and social service professionals.

The DBE has launched a new Early Childhood Administrative and Reporting System (eCares) to simplify the registration process. Practitioners can now receive live support from contact center agents to complete their applications, making it easier for centers in various socio-economic contexts to meet regulatory standards.

Progress and Collaborations in Gauteng and Free State

Since the registration campaign began in June 2024, over 3,000 applications have been received, with 800 new ECDs registered in Gauteng alone, increasing the number of registered ECD centers in the province by 30%. To date, the campaign has impacted more than 27,000 children and employed over 3,100 staff members, demonstrating the initiative’s broad reach and significance.

The DBE also highlighted its collaborative work with provincial governments and partnerships with NGOs to ensure the campaign’s success. The program, now live in Gauteng and Free State, is expected to expand to other provinces soon.

National Goals and Long-Term Vision

Nationally, the DBE has approximately 18,000 ECD centers registered and is targeting the registration of 10,000 additional centers by the end of 2025. This ambitious goal is supported by a realistic threshold for entry to ensure that diverse ECD centers across the country can meet regulatory requirements without compromising quality.

The department emphasized its commitment to a cross-sectoral, collaborative approach to create a robust foundation for the future of South Africa’s youngest citizens.