South African Early Childhood Review 2019

The National Development Plan 2030 was adopted in 2012. After eight years we have made some progress on both the policy front and on child development outcomes. For example, the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy was adopted in 2015, while maternal and child mortality rates have continued on a downward trend. Many of the elements of the Essential Package of early childhood development are in place. The South African Early Childhood Review provides us with rich data on child development and shows us that in the main we have some progress, however there are some areas where we have made little or no progress. The picture painted by this year’s review is quite bleak. Despite the numerous interventions across different sectors, South Africa’s stunting rate at 27% remains unacceptably high. We have to ask the question ‘Why does this situation remain?’