In October, 2004, fifteen Early Childhood Development practitioners from Manenburg, the local Lynedoch farming community and the Lynedoch crèche were accepted for an ECD training programme offering the following SAQA unit standards – ID 23116 ( Level 4) and ID 23117, (level 5). Tthese practitioners completed their coursework in Dec 2005 after which their assessment was moderated by the College of Cape Town. Last week a team from ETD Quality Assurance came to the Institute to verify the assessment and moderation of these learners. They have endorsed the results of the assessment and moderation. This means that those learners who were assessed as competent will receive a statement of results about their qualifications from the ETDP SETA and will be uploaded onto the National Learners database.
We look forward to holding a graduation ceremony at which we can award these learners their Early Childhood Development National Certificates which will enable them to seek employment anywhere in South Africa or in countries which recognise South African qualifications. Well done to these learners.
Sustainability Institute is now an accredited ETDP SETA service provider for Early Childhood Development. We are certified to offer the ECD level 5 National Diploma, ID 23118; the ECD level 5 Higher Certificate, ID 23117 and the ECD Level 4 National Certificate, ID 23116. This accreditation expires in 2011.
In February, 2006 nineteen ECD learners from Philippi, Stellenbosch and Manenburg were admitted to the training programme. They will complete their coursework in Aug-Sept. 2007. The ECD training encapsulates 3 components: ECD, sustainable living and personal healing. Learners are all in-service practitioners who are required to implement the training they receive between modules. Follow up support is also given. An Alumni group for past learners has started to enable past learners to meet and exchange ideas. In addition it is envisaged that those who have successfully completed the programme can support one another and attend refresher courses as needed.
Whilst fulfilling the specific outcomes of the SAQA unit standards, the learning programme has maintained its Montessori approach. We believe that the group of learners who will shortly receive their statement of results from the SETA are the first learners trained in the Montessori approach to receive a full ECD qualification. The crèche at the Lynedoch Eco-village is our model crèche where practitioners observe during training.