Over 100 graduates were honoured at the ceremony. Picture: Supplied
A GRADUATION ceremony was recently hosted in Ulco, outside of Kimberley, in honour of one of the largest cohorts of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners in the Northern Cape and Free State provinces, as part of efforts to improve education in this region.
Over 100 graduates were honoured by key stakeholders from the Department of Education, Sol Plaatje University, the Northern Cape Premier’s Office and educationists, as well as bursary funders who enabled the practitioners to study over the last two years.
Twenty-nine-year-old Sisimogang Setlhabi, who has been working in ECD for eight years, is one of the graduates to have proudly received her certificate.
She is an ECD practitioner at Mickey’s Day Care in Riverton and has now achieved a further Education and Training Certificate in Early Childhood Development, NQF level 4.
She spoke of her passion for teaching.
“Teaching is my passion and I love working hard, because it is the key ingredient of my success and my ability to try something and not to be afraid of failure, or to get knocked down, but to get back up and try harder in life,” said Setlhabi,
“I have a genuine sense of pride to have achieved my goals and dreams. My training meant a lot to me and I have learnt a great deal. I have also had the opportunity to apply both knowledge and new skills in my class every day.”
Setlhabi is one of the graduates funded by Droogfontein Solar Power, as part of its socio-economic development programme, which has a strong focus on education within the communities of Kimberley, Riverton, Ritchie, and Barkly West.
Two cohorts of ECD practitioners graduated with ECD qualifications, comprising of 66 students awarded their Further Education and Training Certificate: Early Childhood Development, NQF level 4 and 39 students who received their Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development, NQF level 5 qualification.
Funding from De Aar Solar Power, Droogfontein Solar Power and Boshof Solar Power allowed the Northern Cape Department of Education to increase the number of ECD practitioners that could access bursaries and added to the general upliftment of education in this region of the country.