By Nobuhle Ngema
On 9 May 2025, Motheo Training Institute hosted a graduation ceremony for their students. Graduates were proud of themselves and how they pushed through; said it wasn’t always easy. They extended their gratitude to Motheo Training Institute Trust for completing their diploma in Early Childhood Development (ECD), a certificate accredited by ETDP SETA with UNISA through the National Learner Registration Database. They promised to talk about it everywhere they go. They were more grateful for their lecturer, Palesa, whom they said was very patient with them and would even offer her time even after school hours.
Through her and the course, they expressed how they had learned the role of the teacher. They now know how to prepare and apply workplace communication skills. And can identify and respond to learners with special needs.
Busisiwe Majola, one of the graduates, started a career in ECD since 1998. She’s passionate about children, and has been working with them ever since. They have programs that are child-related, that stimulates the child from numeracy, life skills and physical development. Attending the course taught Busisiwe how to plan activities that will develop the child holistically, and find ways to extend her teachings in a fun way for those who are struggling to adapt. “It is important to observe and know your kids,” she said. “And how they perform, where they are lacking, where they need to be congratulated.”
Busisiwe has observed that ECD education doesn’t cater for children with special needs, particularly wheelchair-bound, and believes through the training she received from Motheo Training Institute Trust, she can be able to change that.
“Seeing myself graduate was fulfilling, since I had to juggle work, house chores and school. But I made it; that’s what’s important.”
She’s grateful for the opportunity she received from Motheo Training Institute Trust. However, she wishes the institute can do better in reworking their interest rates clause since they only offer a stipend, not a salary.
Mr Rantsope Meshack Molefe “Rex”, Director of Motheo Training Institute Trust, said as much as they producing these graduates across the country, they know they find themselves subjected in appalling conditions in terms of employment, where they are receiving poor wages among many things. But on that front, the advocacy is continuing. They are calling upon public and private partnerships where they can leverage and see to it that resources are mobilised to assist the workplace. They are also aware that even the Department of Basic Education, which they work very close with, has a centre of the committee which is currently working, and has worked on ECD Human Resource Development Plan. It is their hope that Human Resource Strategy is going to be costed and they can see more of ECD workforce being capacitated, so they could be able to mobilize resources and train more ECD practioners, and begin to address gaps and deficiencies that are being revealed by Drive By Five, which is the study that has indicated that half of the ECD workforce in our country is unemployed. Another study that was conducted by the Department of Basic Education, founded by Lebo Foundation, also revealed that half of the ECD workforce are untrained.
“And at times, we’re even failing to retain the existing workforce because of poor remuneration and working conditions.”
Another problem was the aging workforce, and others leaving to different parts of the world to look for greener pastures.
“So through this intervention of Motheo Training Institute Trust, we have brought a lot of youth; mindful that the old guards are now exiting the sector, we need to bring new blood so that we can have continuity and sustainability.”
These are the kinds of challenges that Mr Molefe said they are being confronted with, but they are continuing to advocate, lobbying and trying to mobilize the resources.
Motheo Training Institute Trust has success rate of more than 70%, 98% – it varies, but they never went below 75%. Their intervention is strategic, and it addresses the country’s economic imperatives that fights unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“Early childhood development is very instrumental in creating job creation. We are directly contributing to the GDP of the country, which assists in combating unemployment as it impacts the country’s balance sheet through skills development.”
Motheo Training Institute Trust has been in existence for the last eighteen years (2007), and Mr Rex proudly states that it has been successful in carrying its vision, and expontionally well.
They have indicators they use to measure their success.
Namely:
- They have a tracking system in place, a document of their success stories.
- They have seen those who came to their programs going further and being successful in various sectors.
- They have witnessed their students going into various universities, pursuing different qualifications.
- Their ECD modalities, they are servicing, are coming perfect and being centres of excellence.
This is to mention but a few, they are many. All these are documented because they track and trace how far they are, and also uses a variety of tools to measure the progress, the success, and the impact.
What helped put Motheo Training Institute Trust in greater heights is commitment, dedication, clear vision and objectives. Specific goals that are measurable, time-bound, achievable, expertise to collaborate with, and its associates.
Mrs Abigail Peacock, from National ECD Alliance (NECDA), one of Motheo Training Institute Trust patners, would like to see following three changes incorporated:
- Respect being given and granted to the ECD practioner for the investment they had made as an individual. And for the quality they will deliver.
- All ECD facilities or training providers to use their OPCTL level 4 materials that would lead to standardalization, which would improve professionalization. All teachers would have the opportunity to be trained and send the material across the country. And that value would be for the child to benefit from a fully functional program with a teacher that’s fully equipped.
- To see ECD being recognized on the international front.
Overall, Mr Rex couldn’t even describe the feeling of seeing his students graduate. He said: “My job is quit intense and the only time where I get the job is when my students are graduating. That what’s makes me happy. And mostly, when I see them being able to put food on the table.”
He also extended his gratitude to his partners who made the graduation ceremony a success – South African Council for Educators, ETDP Seta, City of Ekurhueni, UNISA and many more. He expressed the importance of collaborations, and how far they go – especially if they intentional.
For more information on Motheo Training Institute Trust: 011 962 1698
Facebook page: Motheo Training Institute Trust
