National Department of Basic Education: Bana Pele Early Childhood Development (ECD) Registration Drive

The Department of Basic Education has officially launched the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive, an initiative aimed at ensuring that all Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes across South Africa are registered, supported, and empowered to provide quality care and early learning to every child.

This new drive introduces a simplified and more accessible online registration system designed to help ECD centres across the country meet government standards without unnecessary hurdles. Importantly, registration for ECD programmes is completely free of charge. The Department urges all practitioners to be vigilant — no one should request or accept any form of payment for assisting with registration. Any suspicious activity or individuals demanding money for registration support should be reported immediately to: banapele@dbe.gov.za.

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Purpose of the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive

The South African government is committed to ensuring that every young child has access to quality early childhood education, especially in underserved communities. Through this drive, the Department of Basic Education aims to support ECD programmes in providing:

• Quality learning and developmental opportunities
• A safe, protective, and nurturing environment
• Access to adequate nutrition and care

Registration is the first step in making these services available to all children and in building a strong, supportive foundation for their future.

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Objectives of the Drive

• To ensure all ECD programmes are formally registered and brought into the national ECD framework.
• To streamline the registration process and make it more accessible to ECD centres across different contexts and communities.
• To enable ECD centres to comply with legal norms and standards through government and NGO support.
• To partner with provinces and the ECD sector in rolling out a fully tested and functional national system.

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How the New Registration Process Works

The registration process will be rolled out in phases, beginning with pilot testing in selected sites within Gauteng Province. The pilot will inform the broader national roll-out and ensure that the tools and systems function effectively.

The registration system follows three progressive stages, which every ECD programme will pass through:

1. APPLY
   The ECD programme begins the process by submitting an application via the new online form or through a dedicated WhatsApp Bot. Upon submission, the programme will receive a Bronze Certificate as an acknowledgment of registration.
2. COMPLY
   In this stage, the programme must submit all outstanding documentation. Site visits will be conducted by officials to assess and ensure that the programme complies with the required norms and standards.
3. COMPLETE
   Upon successful verification, the ECD programme will be awarded either a Silver Certificate or a Gold Certificate, depending on its level of compliance.

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Role of NGOs in the Registration Drive

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are recognised as vital partners in the success of the Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive. Many NGOs have established trust-based relationships with ECD centres and possess the resources and capacity needed to assist in the process.

Local NGOs are invited to play a supportive role by:

• Helping ECD programmes complete their applications at the APPLY stage
• Assisting with site readiness and documentation at the COMPLY stage

This collaboration will ensure that no programme is left behind, especially those operating in rural or under-resourced areas.

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Application Process

To begin the registration process, ECD centres must submit their application online. The user-friendly system is available at the following link:
👉 https://user-registration.dbecares.gov.za

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Need More Information?

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is available on the Department’s website to help guide you through the process. We encourage you to regularly check this page, as new updates and additional resources will be made available over time.

If you have any questions or require further clarification, you may contact the support team at:
📧 banapele@dbe.gov.za

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Together, let’s build a future where every child in South Africa has the opportunity to thrive from the very beginning.
Register your ECD programme today.