Durban – A select group of Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners have completed their NQF Level 4 ECD training through Training and Resources in Early Education (TREE).
The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), which sponsors the ECD training, announced the achievement.
The graduation ceremony was held on Thursday, (6 February 2025) at St Philomena’s Children’s Home in Durban.
TREE, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting holistic early childhood development, provides professional training, key programs, and resources.
Through this collaboration with TREE, ACSA identified beneficiaries from communities surrounding King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
The beneficiaries were divided into two groups and trained at two sites: Waterloo Crisis Centre in Verulam and Isibonelo ECD Centre in Ndwedwe.
The participants were trained over 18 months and completed theoretical and practical assessments.
They will now graduate and receive an NQF level 4 certificate.
“We are very excited to announce that 39 ECD practitioners from the surrounding airport communities have successfully demonstrated their competence and dedication and will be graduating,” said ACSA Regional General Manager Nkosinathi Myataza.
“Early childhood is the most critical stage for brain development. Research shows that 90% of brain growth occurs before the age of five.
“This graduation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the facilitators and the practitioners.”
Early childhood development is a crucial foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
High-quality ECD programs foster essential skills, such as language development, social interaction, and problem-solving – critical building blocks for academic success and beyond.
Investing in early childhood education offers lasting benefits, including improved academic performance, better health outcomes, and a reduction in social inequalities, ultimately fostering stronger, more equitable communities.
TREE provides training, resources, and support to early childhood development practitioners, ensuring that children receive the best possible start in life.
Their programmes focus on holistic development, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
Myataza notes that the partnership with TREE aligns with ACSA’s strategic objective, which – through its socio-economic development (SED initiatives) – seeks to improve the quality of life of its beneficiaries by facilitating and providing access to sustainable social and economic opportunities.
“Our vision is to engage in SED programs that create meaningful and sustainable livelihoods,” said Myataza.
“These programs are aligned with the priorities of the 2030 National Development Plan and are informed by the King IV Report, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), and the Skills Development Act.”
He adds that ACSA’s SED strategy is aimed at community development, with a particular focus on quality education, with a specific emphasis on ECD for children and practitioners in ECD Centres surrounding local airport communities, as well as on learner and development enhancement on STEM subjects at high school level.
Myataza said ACSA’s investment of more than R1 million in the collaboration demonstrates the organisation’s recognition of the critical role that early childhood development plays in the overall well-being and future success of children.
“By partnering with TREE, ACSA is committed to supporting the development of competent ECD practitioners who can provide high-quality care and education to young children,” said Myataza.
“This partnership aligns with our broader mission to contribute to the socio-economic development of the communities surrounding our airports,” he says.
“The partnership between KSIA and TREE represents a significant step toward improving early childhood development in the region.
“By supporting the training and qualification of ECD practitioners, we are helping create lasting, positive change for children and their communities.
“ACSA is proud to be part of this initiative and looks forward to the positive outcomes it will bring.”
