Recent patterns in the extent and quality of pre-primary education in South Africa
Stellenbosch Policy Brief No. 02/2010Publication date: 2010
Author(s):
A recent paper, using new household data, indicates that the percentage of Grade 1 learners who have experienced pre-primary schooling increased substantially between 2004 and 2008, from 60% to 80%. The research also indicates that attending a preschool improves performance in primary school mathematics test for certain poor learners. These findings are of particular importance given the government’s increased focus on this sector. In the 2009 Medium Term Strategic Framework the government has committed itself to expanding Grade R enrolment to all learners and to double the enrolment of children aged 0 to 4 years in preschool facilities by 2014. Most developing country governments pay considerable attention to expanding access to pre-primary education, largely because it is widely believed that more time spent in pre-primary education leads to better learning in primary schooling and beyond.
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Upcoming Seminars
Monday 04 August 202512:00-13:00
Prof Willem Boshoff: Stellenbosch University
Topic: "Two competing approaches in South African competition policy: merger control and anti-cartel enforcement over the past 30 years"
12:00-13:00
Professor Johan Fourie: Stellenbosch University
Topic: "Economic History: TBC"
12:00-13:00
Dr Stephen Taylor: Director In Education & Research Fellow Stellenbosch
Topic: "TBC"
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25 Jul 2025 Budget hurdle cleared, but US tariff implementation remains a riskIt was another big week on the local political front, but with some constructive momentum. On the trade front, ahead of next week’s 1 August deadline, Trump announced another “massive” trade deal with Japan. The upcoming week is busy, with a slew of global and domestic data releases and several monetary policy decisions, including the SARB....
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