Teacher Experiences of Curriculum Implementation in South Africa

Abstract

Abstract In South Africa, early childhood care and education (ECCE) refers to the learning and development opportunities for children aged from birth to 4 years before formal schooling begins. In South Africa, this sector is primarily characterized by poor government funding, unqualified or underqualified teachers, career instability, and disparities in opportunities for the wealthy and poor. In the government’s National Development Plan, ECCE is a possible avenue to level the playing fields between the “haves and the have-nots” in the country. In response to the challenges experienced by this sector and attempting to achieve the goals of the National Development Plan, the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for children from birth to 4 years was published. The NCF was envisioned to be used in various settings to improve the early learning experiences of young children. This chapter aims to establish teacher experiences of curriculum implementation in ECCE, and ways to improve teachers’ curriculum implementation in ECCE, using data on teachers’ perceptions of the NCF.