# Basic Education minister, Siviwe Gwarube, says funding Early Childhood Development is critical as it is part of the department’s five key priorities. The ECD Conditional Grant has increased to over 1.7-billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, with over 230-million-rand allocated to an ECD Nutrition Pilot and 162-million-rand set aside for infrastructure. Gwarube told the SABC that the department’s goal is that every child must enter Grade R, ready to learn in all respects:
Minister Gwarube says every child must enter Grade R, ready to learn in all respects [SOUND]
ENG GwarubeonECDexpansion