Assessing parents perceptions and participation in early childhood development programs : a case study of Bekezela Creche.

Abstract

This study examined the accessibility of early childhood development programs and parents’ participation in these programs. The case study undertaken was Bekezela Crèche situated in Maphumulo with a focus on its early childhood development program. This study used a qualitative research design which consisted of in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions. The in-depth interviews consisted of three key informants as well as parents who were separated into two groups, each group had 10 parents. The first group of parents had enrolled their children at Bekezela Crèche while the second group of parents did not have access to early childhood development programs for their children. The focus group discussions consisted of teachers at Bekezela Crèche and its governing body. The findings showed that children from poor backgrounds and with unemployed parents who could not afford to pay crèche fees had less access early childhood development programs. In contrast parents who were employed found the crèche fees affordable. Essentially, the study established that poor parents’ participation in early childhood development programs was limited by working patterns and in some cases illiteracy among older care givers.