President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, applauded the Basic Education Sector for their multi-sectoral approach in creating universal access to quality early learning programmes for children from birth to school-going age. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector have committed to work tirelessly to achieve this vision by 2030. The commitment was made during the 2026 Bana Pele Summit held at the Galleria Arena and Conference Centre in Sandton from 19 – 20 October 2026. During the last day of the Summit, the ECD sector co-created the Bana Pele Charter to commit to collective action to ensure progress towards achieving this noble goal.

During the Summit, various early learning experts commended the DBE for forging partnerships with all ECD stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery of quality early learning programmes across various South African communities. “Achieving universal quality early learning is a collective mission. It will take coordinated action beyond isolated efforts. We promise that no child will remain invisible or be excluded from early learning because of poverty, geography, disability, affordability or registration barriers,” the early learning experts reaffirmed as they adopted the Charter. As part of the engagement sessions during the Summit, several key role players, including policy makers, funders, community leaders and parents, agreed that the achievement of quality early learning universal access for children from birth to school going age can be achieved through coordinated, collective action. According to the DBE, nearly 1.8 million children have access to ECD programmes. In terms of the 2026 ECD Mass Registration Drive progress report, almost 23,847 ECD programmes are registered on silver and gold levels, making them eligible for a government subsidy.

In her address, Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, said that the 2030 vision of achieving universal access to quality early learning will address the inequality gap between urban and rural communities: “Universal access takes sustained public investment, and government has begun putting significantly more behind early learning. The daily subsidy has increased from R17 to R24 per child. The subsidy budget has grown from R3.43 billion in 2024/25 to R6.49 billion in the current financial year and is projected to reach R9.1 billion by 2028/29. Two years ago, just over 748,000 children were receiving the subsidy. Today, that number is 954,700. That is more than 200,000 additional children receiving support in just two years”.

In his address, President Ramaphosa stated that the DBE and partners must intensify work around the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive to reach out to every ECD centre. “We are here to discuss our children. It is inspiring to be amongst some of the country's foremost specialists in early childhood education. Much of your work takes place away from public attention. Yet every day, in villages, townships, informal settlements, suburbs and rural communities, you are helping to shape the future of this nation. The future of South Africa is therefore being shaped, not only in our universities, our factories or our boardrooms but in the classrooms and playrooms of our early learning centres. By investing in our youngest children, we are laying the foundations for stronger schools, healthier communities, more inclusive growth, and a more capable workforce for the decades ahead. Early learning breaks the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next. Children from poor households who receive quality early learning start school on a more equal footing with their peers from well-resourced areas. Early learning advances the empowerment of women and expands their participation in the economy,” added President Ramaphosa.