An Early Childhood Development (ECD) learnership is a work-attached learning programme that aims to provide skills needed for working with young children.
For South Africans looking to study and work in early childhood development, an ECD learnership can offer a combination of training and experience. They can vary greatly depending on qualification, duration, entry requirements and stipend.
In this guide we’ll look at:
- What ECD means
- What an ECD learnership involves
- What training is provided
- What opportunities exist for further development
- The stipend and other relevant information
What Does ECD Mean?
ECD stands for Early Childhood Development.
ECD practitioners deal with developing play-based activities and learning experiences for children.
SAQA’s registered Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner defines ECD practitioners as people who plan and prepare early-childhood activities, facilitate and mediate learning, observe and assess development and support holistic development within centre-based and non-centre-based settings.
What Is an ECD Learnership?
An ECD learnership is a combination of learning and workplace experience.
Instead of focussing purely on theoretical knowledge, an ECD learnership allows learners to gain practical occupational skills while working in an appropriate environment.
The exact nature of an ECD learnership depends on the specific programme and the qualification being offered
For example, SAQA records the Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner as an NQF Level 4 occupational qualification with a minimum of 131 credits.
In general, an ECD learnership programme will give learners the knowledge and skills they need to work as an Early Childhood Development Practitioner and operate at NQF Level 4. It can also qualify them for higher further education and training (FET) qualifications.
What Do ECD Learners Learn?
As with any training programme, the content depends on the qualification or learning programme being offered.
In general, ECD training covers topics related to working with young children. This can include:
Child Growth and Development
An understanding of how children grow and develop, and how knowledge of growth and development can be applied when working with children.
Learning Through Play
Planning activities and exercises for developing children.
Activity Planning
The ECD practitioner will need skills in activity planning, to suit the developmental needs of the children.
Health and Safety
The ECD practitioner needs to know and apply health and safety knowledge in the workplace.
Observation and Assessment
ECD practitioners may need to observe and use information about the growth and development of children to plan learning experiences.
Working With Families and Communities
Depending on the programme, learners can develop skills for working with parents, caregivers, colleagues and communities.
The exact curriculum will always need to be confirmed according to the specific learning programme, qualification or learnership opportunity.
What Qualification Can an ECD Learnership Lead To?
This will depend on the learnership being applied for.
The Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner, which SAQA records as an NQF Level 4 qualification, provides learners with the knowledge and skills needed to work as an Early Childhood Development Practitioner.
SAQA’s information page for ECD shows that there are progression opportunities for those who complete an ECD course and want to pursue further development in the ECD career path.
Applicants should therefore look at the qualification being offered for an ECD learnership, rather than automatically assuming that any ECD programme leads to the same certificate.
How Long Does an ECD Learnership Take?
The duration of an ECD learnership varies, depending on a number of factors.
While many learnership advertisements may say that an ECD learnership takes about a year to complete, this always needs to be confirmed according to the specific programme, qualification and provider.
Applicants should therefore always check:
- Start date
- Completion date
- Number of training hours
- Workplace-learning or training requirements
- Assessment requirements
- Whether the programme is full-time
- Whether the learner is required to report to a particular location
The learnership advertisement should always be used as a source for information about the duration of a particular ECD learnership.
Who Can Apply for an ECD Learnership?
Entry requirements vary, depending on the programme.
An ECD learnership may have requirements such as:
- A minimum school grade
- Grade 12 or another qualification
- A specific age
- South African citizenship or another condition
- Being unemployed
- A specific residence or province of residence
- Availability to attend training and workplace components
Therefore, applying for an ECD learnership is not as simple as saying that any person who has completed Grade 10, 11 or Matric is eligible. Each programme has its own entry requirements which applicants must meet.
Is an ECD Learnership Free?
Some learnerships are funded, which means that the learner does not have to pay tuition fees.
However, this cannot always be assumed – and applicants should not automatically assume that any ECD learnership is free of charge.
Applicants should be aware there are different ECD training providers and programmes, some of which are fully funded, while others are not.
Where a learnership is advertised as being funded, learners should always find out who is funding the programme and whether there are any costs or conditions associated with the learnership.
Do ECD Learnerships Pay a Stipend?
Some learnerships do pay a stipend to the learners.
Depending on the programme, this can be a monthly or hourly stipend.
However, there is no generic stipend amount for ECD learnerships – and learners should avoid making assumptions about any stipend, based on what they find on a website or an online forum.
Applicants should therefore always look at the learnership advertisement and ask:
- Monthly stipend
- Stipend conditions
- Stipend payment period
- Attendance requirements
- Deductions or other stipend conditions
A stipend should not be confused with a permanent salary.
Where Can an ECD Learner Work?
ECD practitioners can work in different settings, depending on the qualification, job title and requirements of the workplace.
Settings which employ ECD practitioners can include:
- Early learning centres
- Preschools
- Community-based ECD programmes
- Other approved early childhood settings
- Non-centre-based ECD programmes
Depending on the qualification, experience and requirements of the employer, an ECD learner can operate in a variety of settings.
Is an ECD Learnership the Same as Becoming a School Teacher?
No.
An ECD learnership and a school-teaching qualification differ.
An ECD qualification is aimed at understanding and operating as an ECD practitioner – and the programme depends on the training being offered.
Those who want to become professionally qualified teachers need to look at teacher-education qualifications and requirements.
It is therefore important to be clear that an ECD qualification does not automatically entitle a person to teach any grade in school.
Can an ECD Qualification Lead to Further Study?
Depending on the qualification and admission requirements, further study can be possible.
South Africa has a number of ECD learning pathways, with SAQA showing progression from Level 4 learnerships and qualifications to higher ECD qualifications.
The options open to an ECD learner will depend on the qualification the person has completed, and the admission requirements of the further-education programme.
Learners who are considering further education should therefore ask the further-education institution what options are open to them after they have completed their ECD learnership.
What Skills Are Important for an ECD Practitioner?
Working as an ECD practitioner requires more than simply completing a programme or qualification.
Important qualities include:
- Patience
- Communication
- Creativity
- Responsibility
- Organisation
- Teamwork
- Observation
- Empathy
- Good procedures
- Willingness to learn
Applicants should also be aware that working with children comes with great responsibility.
An ECD practitioner will be required to ensure that a safe and supportive environment is provided for children.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Before applying for an ECD learnership, there are a number of important checks which applicants should make:
1. The Qualification
Find out the name and level of the qualification associated with the programme, which the learner will be able to obtain.
2. Entry Requirements
Check the required school grade, qualification, age, citizenship, employment status and other requirements.
3. Training Location
Find out where the training and workplace components will take place.
4. Programme Duration
Check the actual start and end dates of the programme, rather than using a generalised statement that an ECD learnership takes about a year.
5. Stipend
If a stipend is being provided, find out the stipend amount and the conditions of the stipend, based on the programme’s advertisement.
6. Workplace Component
Find out where the workplace component will take place, and what type of experience the learner will gain.
7. Application Method
Submit an application according to the method specified by the organisation or training provider.
8. Recognition of the Qualification
Check the qualification or learning outcome at the relevant official quality-assurance or qualification information sites, where applicable.
Be Careful of Fake ECD Learnerships
ECD learnerships are popular, which means that there are many people looking for ECD opportunities – and there are also scammers looking to take advantage of those who are trying to complete an ECD learnership.
Be aware and careful if:
- Someone promises you that you will be selected
- You are asked to pay for a placement
- You are requested to provide unnecessary personal information
- Unofficial application methods are used
- Someone says they represent a SETA but cannot provide verifiable information
- A stipend is offered which is not mentioned in the official opportunity
Applicants should always confirm the organisation and application method before submitting any documents or personal information.
Is an ECD Learnership Worth Considering?
There are many reasons why a person may consider applying for an ECD learnership.
However, it is important for the applicant to assess the learnership opportunity, according to the qualification, training components, workplace components, entry requirements and further opportunities for study, rather than simply applying for any ECD learnership opportunity.
The most important consideration is that the applicant understands the specific programme which they are applying for.
Final Takeaway
An ECD learnership is a work-attached learning programme which offers training and skills for working in the ECD profession. It can provide a combination of learning and practical experience. ECD learnerships can also lead to an occupational qualification.
South Africa has a number of ECD qualifications at different levels, including the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner.
However, each ECD learnership can have different entry requirements, stipend and duration.
Applicants should always look at the specific learnership which they are considering, in terms of the qualification, entry requirements, programme duration, stipend, location and workplace components, and application method.
Editorial Policy
Our education and career content is designed to give South Africans practical information. We differentiate between general information and requirements for specific programmes.
Where programme-specific information is provided, applicants should confirm the most up-to-date information with the organisation which is offering the programme.
Sources and Verification
Information about ECD qualifications in this article have been verified using South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) records and ETDP SETA material. SAQA currently lists the Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner as an NQF Level 4 qualification with 131 credits, while ETDP SETA provides information about ECD qualifications and careers.
The status of qualifications and programme enrolment dates can change, and so applicants should verify the current status before enrolling for a programme.
Corrections Policy
Where an error is identified, the information should be compared to the authoritative source and any necessary corrections should be made transparently.
Disclaimer
This article provides general educational and career information. It does not give any guarantees about admission, funding, a stipend, employment or selection for an ECD learnership. Applicants should check the requirements and conditions of a learnership before applying.
