Costing Centre Based Early Childhood Development Programmes for Children Under Age Five. Case Studies from the Western Cape
by BIERSTEKER L, CARTER, J & STREAK, J, 2008Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
This paper is one of a series developed to inform the Scaling Up ECD Services (0–4 years) Research Project with the aim of improving child development and significant job creation. Carter et al capture information about the cost of providing ECD for children under the age of five through different forms of centre-based provision. It also sought to identify existing and possible innovations that would contribute to cost efficiencies in the scaling up of ECD.Case studies were used to collect financial information from ECD centres and identify practices that lead to cost savings in these centres. The paper analyses the cost structures in ECD centres and identifies a realistic estimate of the cost of providing services; presents a series of case studies of different cost structures; discusses the key issues affecting ECD centres’ ability to raise revenue and access government services; and make recommendations on the above that will contribute to the sustainable achievement of the government’s vision set out in the NIP.
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