On Thursday evening the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) was once again brought firmly into the spotlight with the annual ABSA/Sowetan Early Childhood Development National Awards held at Velmore Estate, outside Pretoria.

The ABSA/Sowetan ECD Awards created awareness of the importance of ECD and provides a platform and support system for those working in ECD.  The awards give recognition to leading ECD practitioners, centres and training providers, thereby encouraging others to meet the same standards.

The award is co-ordinated by ABSA, with partners such as the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation, the Sowetan newspaper, the Department of Basic Education, the Office of the Rights of the Child in the Presidency, and SABC Education.

There are five categories in the ABSA/Sowetan Early Childhood Development Awards, of which the College of Cape Town won the first prize in the category “ECD Resource and Training Organization for 2009”.  This prestigious award follows on the College of Cape Town’s victory at provincial level in this category in the Western Cape on 16 November 2009.

Melody Marescia, Senior Lecturer in ECD at the Gardens Campus of the College of Cape Town, confirmed that the award testifies to the confidence expressed by the sector in the quality of provision offered by the ECD Department of the College.

Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga delivered the keynote address at the function.