Polokwane - Limpopo's Education Department will spend part of its R16 billion budget to train more than 1 000 pre-school workers this year as part of its commitment to creating jobs in the province.
Provincial education spokesperson Ndo Mangala said the training forms part of the Early Childhood Development and Expanded Pubic Works Programme initiative.
"The roll-out of the training of 1 300 early childhood development practitioners will also ensure universal access for all five-year-olds in the province to Grade R," said Mr Mangala on Wednesday.
He said the department has invited businesses to bid for the provision of professional training of 652 Grade R early childhood development (ECD) teachers at NQF Level 5 over two years.
A tender would be announced later this year for the training of another 648 practitioners, who will receive a year's training at NQF level 4.
He said 300 practitioners who are currently completing NQF level 4 training will receive their certificates this year.
Implementation of the second phase of the public works programme will involve building capacity among practitioners, including gardeners and cooks, at community ECD learning sites.
Mr Mangala said 400 cooks and 400 gardeners will be trained and that jungle-gyms will be supplied to the ECD sites to further stimulate effective learning.
He encouraged parents of five-year-olds to enrol their children in Grade R classes when registration takes place between August and November this year.
The department was expecting an increase in the number of Grade R enrolments from 94 855 to 110 000 by January next year.
"We will run advocacy campaigns through radio, flyers, circulars, community and parent-teacher meetings. The campaigns are in line with government's policy of doubling ECD by 2014," said Mr Mangala.
Interested bidders for the NQF level 5 training must contact the department's procurement office on (015) 290-7613/7614.
The closing date for proposals is 27 July and the department will hold a compulsory briefing on 17 July at the provincial head office in Polokwane.
