Valley Development Projects

Valentine's Day celebrations with the youth club at Open Door

Honouring social work professionals in the Western Cape this March As we honour our social work professionals this March, let's remember the profound impact they have on the lives of individuals and communities, tirelessly working to create paths of healing and hope for those who need it most.

The 81% crisis: Why early literacy and numeracy skills cannot wait With 81% of Grade 4 South African students unable to read for meaning and youth unemployment exceeding 46%, strong foundational skills in literacy and numeracy aren't just academic goals—they're economic imperatives. This article explores how early education shapes both classroom success and workp...

Green Curtains Preschool and Masakhane Educare Centre, registered with WCED to provide Grade R, are both still open to receive new applications.

Compulsory Grade R stumbling blocks include unplaced learners and tight budgets as 2026 school year begins As the 2026 school year kicks off, tight budgets and unplaced learners are key challenges facing provincial departments of education when it comes to the implementation of compulsory Grade R.…

The actual state of South African education is most accurately mirrored not in Grade 12 pass rates, but in Grade 4 performance metrics. International data consistently indicates that about 81% of South African nine-year-olds are unable to read for meaning in any language.

The grand illusion of the 88% Senior Certificate pass rate and SA's literacy crisis — connect the dots Without an urgent pivot toward Grade R-3 literacy and parental empowerment, the South African educational system remains a ‘certificate factory’ rather than a centre of human capital development.…

About 22% of Grade R learners in the Western Cape attend registered early childhood development (ECD) centres.

Both Green Curtains Preschool in Ocean View and Masakhane Educare Centre in Masiphumelele are registered with WCED for Grade R, and are currently open for new registrations.

Early childhood development sector remains ‘vital’ but underresourced partner in provision of compulsory Grade R The early childhood development sector has an important role to play in the delivery of universal access to quality Grade R learning for young children. However, despite recent mass registration drive…

Compulsory Grade R — all you need to know about the first year of formal schooling Compulsory Grade R legislation in South Africa, effective from 2025, aims to enhance early education access. However, challenges persist regarding funding, resources, and qualified teachers, threatening effective implementation and universal enrolment in early childhood education.

The City of Cape Town has secured an international grant of approximately R285 million to strengthen early childhood development (ECD) services in high-need communities, improve regulatory compliance, and support violence prevention interventions in vulnerable communities across the city.

It is not yet clear whether Ocean View and Masiphumelele will be included in the selected districts chosen by the City for such support.

Transformative R285 million grant from Germany boosts Cape Town's early childhood development The City of Cape Town has secured a transformative R285 million grant from Germany, aimed at enhancing early childhood development services in high-need communities. This funding promises to improve regulatory compliance and support vital violence prevention initiatives.