Entrepreneurial Leadership in Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development in South Africa

Abstract

This paper examined empirical data from research conducted in South Africa about problems induced by the global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021 to Entrepreneurial Leadership in Early Childhood Education (ECE) for sustainable development of the sector. A desktop analysis method was employed in this paper to review the report by ‘Ilifa Labantwana’, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Early Childhood Education for sustainable development in South Africa during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. The researchers discovered that the lengthy COVID-19 lockdown restrictions exposed gaps in government, ECE school leaders, parents and the other stakeholders’ preparedness for survival, focus, continuity, and resilience in times of unexpected pandemics. The paper relied on data from the desk research, which may not have been collected from the desired setting or time. The researcher had no control over the data and may therefore only provide partial analysis in terms of precision due to lack of triangulation. The paper’s findings described the importance of change in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and Entrepreneurial leaders to take risks associated with the change which requires support. The paper has theoretical implications in empowering the leaders’ survival strategies in ECD centres. It further recommends new leadership directions for other leaders. The paper is an attempt to develop survival strategies during turbulent times in ECD centres and improves the level of preparedness against natural disasters in developed and developing countries.

Keywords

• Entrepreneurial skills
• Early Childhood
• Ilifa Labantwana
• Leadership
• Innovation
• Sustainable development

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