Research 

'This report was commissioned by Ilifa Labantwana with the purpose of mapping the channels and the amounts of the various funding sources for ECD learnerships for practitioners working with children aged 0-4 years. The purpose of the report is to analyse the challenges presented by these funding channels for strengthening the human resources needed to ensure the delivery of quality ECD services to all South African children occupying the lowest two quintiles. This report uses available literature, budget documents and interviews to map out sources, channels, methods and amounts related to the funding of ECD learnerships in the KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Western Cape provinces. The research reveals a complex web of actors, and substantial disparities in the administration of learnerships, funding and provision of training and support, reporting structures and co-ordination across training institutions and government departments in the provincial and national spheres. The report concludes that the complexity of these funding arrangements negatively impacts on the national prioritisation of ECD by undermining efforts to improve the skills and knowledge of practitioners.' [Executive Summary]