The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), hosted the Quality Assurance of the Versioning of Standardised Curriculum Implementation Support Packs Workshop at the Premier Hotel OR Tambo in Kempton Park from 15 to 21 June 2026. The workshop brought together curriculum specialists, subject advisors, language experts, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners from all nine provinces to review and strengthen curriculum support materials designed for children from birth to five years.

Providing an overview of the workshop, Ms Vuyelwa Ntuli, Chief Education Specialist for ECD, explained that the primary objective was to quality assure the versioned Curriculum Implementation Support Packs and ensure that they are developmentally appropriate, linguistically accurate, inclusive, and relevant to the diverse contexts in which ECD practitioners operate. She noted that the workshop also enabled provincial experts to validate and refine the resources before they are finalised for implementation.

Providing background on the initiative, DBE’s Ms Ouma Buthane, explained that the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) serves as the foundation for holistic child development through play-based learning, responsive caregiving, and meaningful early learning experiences. She highlighted that research conducted by the DBE, UNICEF, and other partners identified a need for practical resources that could help practitioners effectively translate the framework into everyday teaching and learning activities.

Expanding on the content of the resources, DBE’s Ms Kgopotso Khumalo explained that the Curriculum Implementation Support Packs provide structured daily guidance for practitioners working with children across different age groups. Organised according to developmental stages from birth to five years, the packs promote active learning whilst allowing flexibility to accommodate different classroom environments and learner needs. She further highlighted that the materials support inclusive education by providing guidance for working with children who have diverse learning needs.

Speaking on UNICEF’s contribution, Ms Lungile Mdluli highlighted the organisation’s strong partnership with the DBE in advancing quality ECD programmes. Through a joint work plan, UNICEF has supported the development of Learner and Teacher Support Materials aligned to the NCF for children from birth to four years. She noted that the resources are currently being translated into all official South African languages to strengthen Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education and improve accessibility for young learners. Ms Mdluli added that UNICEF will continue supporting the Department during the rollout and implementation of the materials to enhance early learning outcomes across the country.

Aligned with the Department’s 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development, the workshop demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening South Africa’s early learning sector. The collaborative engagement, valuable knowledge exchange, and dedication shown by participants throughout the week contributed to a highly motivational and successful workshop, reinforcing efforts to provide every child with a strong foundation for lifelong learning and development.