Ntataise had the privilege of a visit from the Honourable Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, and His Excellency Mr David Martinon, the French Ambassador to South Africa, to celebrate the Building Excellence in ECD in the North West Province initiative.

This collaborative project, made possible through the visionary support of the French Embassy in South Africa, and in partnership with the National Department of Basic Education, the North West Department of Education and Ntataise, aims to transform 100 Early Learning Programmes across the province into ECD Centres of Excellence.

Some 50 senior representatives from the National and Provincial Departments of Education and the French Embassy attended the event. Ntataise’s Programme Director, Puleng Motsoeneng, presented the scope and impact of the project and was joined by Ntataise Founder Jane Evans, Trustee Johannes Machatola, Executive Director Sarah McGuigan and MERL Director Kaley Le Mottée.

The project, which started in August 2024, has begun to shift the landscape of early learning in the four districts of the North West province. A comprehensive baseline assessment revealed critical gaps in practitioner training, curriculum delivery, and family engagement, all of which are now being addressed through targeted, evidence-based interventions.

The project is already showing promising improvements in practitioner skills, confidence, and the overall learning environment for children. During the visit, the delegation toured two ECD centres, witnessing first-hand the transformation underway. At one of the centres, the Honourable Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube remarked “What we have observed today shows that the direction we are heading is the right one. We must invest in the foundations of learning. I want to make a commitment to the supervisors and super-practitioners that the DBE will focus its energy on ensuring every young child gets a fair start in life.”

Ntataise Founder Jane Evans, reflected on the occasion, “It was a great honour and joy to be part of the North West’s official celebration of its ‘Building Excellence in ECD’ programme. It was a special day that brought together many of the province’s ECD champions. Congratulations to all involved.”

Together, we are leapfrogging children forward – creating joyful learning spaces, equipping practitioners with the tools they need, and strengthening the foundation for lifelong learning.