Asilweni Bo Mama’s Stop the Early Admission of 3–4 Year Olds into Grade R: Protect the ECD Phase
We, the undersigned principals, educators, parents, and community members, strongly oppose Section 19 of the BELA Bill, which allows children as young as 3–4 years old to be admitted into public schools before the official Grade R admission age.
Why This Matters:
• Disrupts ECD: Early Childhood Development centres provide the nurturing, play-based learning environment 3–4 year olds need. Moving them into schools too early disrupts their growth.
• Children Are Not Ready: Most under-5s are not socially, emotionally, or physically prepared for structured schooling.
• Strains Public Schools: Schools are already overcrowded and under-resourced; adding younger children will reduce quality of education for all.
• Parents & ECD Voices Ignored: Communities believe children should not be rushed into formal education.
Our Request:
We call on the Department of Basic Education to:
• Remove or amend Section 19 of the BELA Bill.
• Strengthen support for ECD centres for children aged 0–5.
• Consult meaningfully with ECD principals and parents before making such decisions.
Let’s protect childhood, support ECD, and give our children the right start.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 5, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 5, 2025
1,724 Comments
I'm an ecd practitioner, I don't agree that children between the ages 3-4 should be at Primary school. Most children at this age are still trying to be independent, not developed holistically and most of them can't even articulate themselves well.
Jolly Light ELC has employed 6 people who will lose their jobs if 3 to 4 years old goes to formal school. This bill will cost ecd practitioners their daily bread,we offer stimulating activities that promotes fully development of the Children's.
3-4 years must remain in creches and even grade R must go back because educators in schools are not trained like ECD practitioners (educare workers, that means they educate and care at the same time) these children are very young the need an extra caring.
Children between the ages of 3-4 still need motherly care and they are not yet fully independent,they also need certain nutrition and warm clean meals which school can't provide and schools don't have enough space and resources to canter for 3-4year olds.
Our public schools are already overcrowded and under resourced.We are aware that our government is allowing 80 children in a class for grade one.Is that also going to happen to our 3-4 yrs old.Let the government care for an African child.
Iam one who face this battle primary take 4ry and also 3ry who's born before june now i see myself go back to creche
Asilweni bo mama
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Asilweni Bo Mama’s Stop the Early Admission of 3–4 Year Olds into Grade R: Protect the ECD Phase
We, the undersigned principals, educators, parents, and community members, strongly oppose Section 19 of the BELA Bill, which allows children as young as 3–4 years old to be admitted into public schools before the official Grade R admission age.
Why This Matters:
• Disrupts ECD: Early Childhood Development centres provide the nurturing, play-based learning environment 3–4 year olds need. Moving them into schools too early disrupts their growth.
• Children Are Not Ready: Most under-5s are not socially, emotionally, or physically prepared for structured schooling.
• Strains Public Schools: Schools are already overcrowded and under-resourced; adding younger children will reduce quality of education for all.
• Parents & ECD Voices Ignored: Communities believe children should not be rushed into formal education.
Our Request:
We call on the Department of Basic Education to:
• Remove or amend Section 19 of the BELA Bill.
• Strengthen support for ECD centres for children aged 0–5.
• Consult meaningfully with ECD principals and parents before making such decisions.
Let’s protect childhood, support ECD, and give our children the right start.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 5, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 5, 2025
1,724 Comments
I am signing this petition as a perant who also don't want their child to go primary at the age 3 years because the child is still young at the age she/he won't understand anything they so it best for them to remain at Ecd where the belong.
I'm an ecd practitioner, I don't agree that children between the ages 3-4 should be at Primary school. Most children at this age are still trying to be independent, not developed holistically and most of them can't even articulate themselves well.
Jolly Light ELC has employed 6 people who will lose their jobs if 3 to 4 years old goes to formal school. This bill will cost ecd practitioners their daily bread,we offer stimulating activities that promotes fully development of the Children's.
3-4 years must remain in creches and even grade R must go back because educators in schools are not trained like ECD practitioners (educare workers, that means they educate and care at the same time) these children are very young the need an extra caring.
Children between the ages of 3-4 still need motherly care and they are not yet fully independent,they also need certain nutrition and warm clean meals which school can't provide and schools don't have enough space and resources to canter for 3-4year olds.
Our public schools are already overcrowded and under resourced.We are aware that our government is allowing 80 children in a class for grade one.Is that also going to happen to our 3-4 yrs old.Let the government care for an African child.
Iam one who face this battle primary take 4ry and also 3ry who's born before june now i see myself go back to creche
Asilweni bo mama
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I am signing this petition as a perant who also don't want their child to go primary at the age 3 years because the child is still young at the age she/he won't understand anything they so it best for them to remain at Ecd where the belong.