Solid foundations for children begin with strong support for those who teach them. Across South Africa, early learning centre (ECD centre) owners and practitioners carry this responsibility every day, playing a vital role in shaping the foundation of education for our children. Their role goes far beyond teaching; they balance care, learning, administration, and leadership, often with very limited resources.
As we mark Literacy Day, it’s a reminder that literacy in today’s world extends beyond reading and writing. It also includes the digital skills needed to thrive. For ECD centre owners and practitioners, these skills influence how centres are managed, how caregivers of children are engaged, and ultimately, how children are taught. Yet, too many of them still find themselves navigating significant paper-based administrative tasks alongside their teaching and nurturing roles.
Innovation Edge believes firmly in the significance of equipping early learning centre owners and practitioners with the skills they need to thrive. Digital literacy is a critical capability for strengthening the quality and sustainability of early childhood education. Partnering with Digify Africa gives us the opportunity to support early learning centre owners and practitioners in gaining digital literacy skills that make their centres more efficient.
In July, Digify Africa launched a brand-new ECD learning programme through their Kitso DigiBot, a WhatsApp-based resource designed to meet practitioners where they are and support them with vital skills. From parent communication to financial management, record keeping, and registration support, Kitso DigiBot is empowering early learning centre owners and practitioners to grow both their centres and their confidence.
Following the launch, we reached out to Nothando Gininda, the DigiBot Manager from Digify Africa, to gain insights from their perspective on digital literacy among early learning centre owners and practitioners and to understand the solution they are offering:
How does Digify define ‘digital literacy’ for ECD centre owners and practitioners?
For us, digital literacy in the ECD context goes beyond advanced technical skills. It’s also about empowering ECD centre owners and practitioners to use simple, accessible digital tools to solve real business and educational challenges. We define it as the ability to confidently use mobile-based solutions for financial management, parent communication, record-keeping, and compliance. It means transforming from paper-based systems to digital efficiency while maintaining the human-centred approach that makes early childhood development so valuable.
Why is enhancing digital literacy crucial for ECD in South Africa?
Digital literacy is the bridge between survival and sustainability for ECD centres. Many owners struggle with basic business operations, such as tracking payments, managing budgets, communicating professionally with parents, and meeting compliance requirements. Without these foundational skills, even the most passionate educators can’t build sustainable centres. Digital literacy enables ECD centre owners to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on what matters most: quality early childhood education.
What are the primary barriers ECD centre owners face in improving digital literacy?
The biggest barriers are accessibility and relevance. Most digital training requires expensive devices, reliable internet, or complex platforms that feel overwhelming. ECD centre owners often have minimal formal business training and limited time for lengthy courses. They need solutions that work on basic smartphones, function offline when necessary, and directly address their daily challenges, not generic digital skills that don’t translate to their reality.
How does Kitso ECD address the digital literacy gap?
Kitso ECD meets people exactly where they are – on WhatsApp, the platform they already use and trust. Instead of requiring them to learn new technologies, we built learning into their existing communication tool. The learning experience is also designed with short, effective, practical lessons that can be completed during short breaks. Every lesson directly addresses real ECD challenges, from setting up mobile payment systems to creating and sending professional communication to parents.
What specific digital skills can owners and practitioners gain through Kitso ECD?
The programme covers five core areas: mobile financial tracking and budgeting, digital fee payment systems and record-keeping, professional communication strategies, compliance and registration documentation, and basic digital marketing for sustainable growth. Each skill is broken down into simple, actionable steps with immediate practical application. For example, we show them how to use spreadsheets to create a fee-tracking system that saves hours each week.
How does Kitso ECD promote scalability and wide reach?
WhatsApp makes this possible in a way that feels natural and easy for people to use in their daily lives. It works on any smartphone, functions with limited data, and doesn’t require app downloads or account setups. This means we can reach ECD centre owners and practitioners in rural areas with poor connectivity, those using basic phones, and anyone who might be intimidated by formal learning platforms. The programme scales organically through WhatsApp’s existing infrastructure, making it widely accessible across South Africa’s diverse landscapes.
How can ECD ecosystem role players contribute to digital literacy?
The ecosystem needs to recognise that digital literacy isn’t a luxury, but essential infrastructure for quality ECD. The government can integrate digital skills into ECD registration requirements, NGOs can partner with programmes like Kitso to amplify reach, and the private sector can provide accessible tools designed for ECD needs. Most importantly, we need to shift from viewing ECD centre owners as recipients of aid to recognising them as entrepreneurs who need business skills to succeed.
What are Digify’s future plans for Kitso DigiBot and digital literacy initiatives?
Our vision is to become a trusted, comprehensive lifelong learning partner for ECD in South Africa. To get there, we’re developing AI-powered coaching features that provide personalised support and learning pathways on the go. Within three years, we hope to establish digital literacy as a standard competency for ECD centre practitioners. Ultimately, we want every child in South Africa to benefit from digitally empowered early childhood education.
Digify’s insights highlight the importance of supporting ECD centre owners and practitioners through digital literacy. Our mission is to back bold solutions that address barriers like these, and our investment in Kitso ECD DigiBot reflects our belief that digital literacy is about equity, opportunity, and the future of early learning. We look forward to witnessing the impact of this innovative solution in early learning in South Africa.
Chat to Kitso on WhatsApp using this mobile number, 076 593 7181.
Learn more about our current portfolio here.
Author: Dimpho Lephaila – Communications Associate at Innovation Edge