Mariana Naude has wonWoman's Innovation In Curriculum In Early Childhood Development

Mariana Naude has wonWoman's Innovation In Curriculum In Early Childhood Development

• August 27, 2025

Over the span of my career in education, I have been deeply committed to improving the quality and reach of learning in South Africa, particularly in disadvantaged communities. My journey began in the classroom and evolved into a national mission to strengthen teacher capacity, advance research, and inspire systemic change.

Through decades of academic work, I have trained teachers across all nine provinces— empowering thousands of educators with practical, research-based methods for early learning and inclusive education. As an author and editor, I have published foundational textbooks in early childhood and Foundation Phase education, including key titles such as:

• Teaching Mathematics in the Foundation Phase;

• The Best Start in Life – Birth to Four

• Teaching Life Skills in the Foundation Phase

These works are prescribed by 16 universities nationwide, shaping the next generation of South African teachers.

 My academic contributions extend to presenting at leading conferences and publishing peer-reviewed scholarly articles in accredited journals, where I have shared evidencebased insights into childhood development, mathematics education, and inclusive practices.

The pinnacle of my career has been my role as co-founder CEO of a pioneering Not-forProfit company that developed a groundbreaking, story-based Financial Literacy (FinLit) program for children aged 3–6. Designed to address intergenerational poverty, this program has now scaled to 450 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across disadvantaged communities. It equips teachers, children, and families with lifelong money management skills through an engaging story book series supported by toys and FinLit resources for the classroom and family homes.

More than a curriculum, the FinLit program has become a holistic, intergenerational movement. It supports not only teachers and young learners but also uplifts parents, ECD staff, and corporate workforces—bringing consumer financial education, with the support of Corporate Financial Institutions, to all layers of society. This initiative represents my lifelong vision: to transform education into a vehicle for dignity, equity, and lasting socio-economic change in South Africa.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Chief Executive Officer – Sandton Fun Factory (NPO)

Johannesburg, South Africa | 2021–Present

• Founded and lead a registered NPO and PBO Early Childhood Development Centre.

• Designed and implemented a nationally scaled Financial Literacy Program for children aged 3–6.

• Rolled out the program in over 450 ECD Centres, and 800 teachers and ECD employees, primarily to disadvantaged communities.

• Developed a parent-focused Corporate FinLit program in partnership with a leading digital financial institution.

• Authored 72 Financial Literacy children's stories in addition to donor funded financial literacy toys as learning tools for teachers, children and parents in disadvantaged communities across SA .

Manager – Discovery Health ECD Centre

Sandton, Johannesburg | 2019–2020

• Managed a corporate ECD Centre, ensuring compliance with national ECD standards.

• Drove early curriculum development focused on Financial Literacy and school readiness.

• Completed PhD studies during tenure.

Higher Education Consultant – Namibian Government

Windhoek, Namibia | 2016–2018

• Evaluated and reviewed Higher Education Institution course content and quality.

• Supported national efforts to improve teacher education in the Early Childhood Sector and Foundation Phases.

Lecturer – AROS (Academy for Reformed Education and Training)

Pretoria, South Africa | 2013–2016

• Lectured Mathematics Education to prospective Foundation Phase teachers.

• Mentored undergraduate students in practical school-based teaching.

• Became an academic author for Van Schaik Publishers during this time.

LEAD Teacher and Foundation Phase Educator – Department of Basic Education SA

Public Schools | 2003–2013

• Taught Grades 1–3 learners.

• Appointed as LEAD Teacher in Mathematics, training teachers nationally in the new CAPS curriculum.

• Completed Honours in Inclusive Education during this period.

Pre-School Teacher – Early Childhood Centres

Various Locations | 1990–2002

• Taught children aged 0–6 years in diverse early learning settings.

• Developed foundational skills in play-based learning and classroom management.

Education

• PhD in Curriculum Studies

University of South Africa (UNISA), 2019

• Masters in Education

University of South Africa (UNISA), 2014

• Honours in Inclusive Education

University of South Africa (UNISA), 2008

• Bachelor’s Degree in Foundation Phase Education

University of South Africa (UNISA), 2004

Publications

• Author and Editor – Van Schaik Publishers

o Teaching Mathematics in the Foundation Phase

o Teaching Life Skills in the Foundation Phase

o Teaching Life Skills in Intermediate Phase

o Assessment in the Foundation Phase o The Best Start in Life – Birth to Four

• Self-published Author and Editor

o 72 original Financial Literacy children's stories (2020–present), translated to 5 local SA languages

• Published academic articles in accredited journals

(orcid: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0646-3634 )

o A Teacher-directed Approach to Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in Early Childhood Second Language Classrooms in South Africa, Springer, 2025

o The impact of the BrainBoosters programme on foundational mathematics learning in early childhood education for English second language learners

o Elements of the physical learning environment that impact on the teaching and learning in South African Grade 1 classrooms

Achievements & Impact

• Developed South Africa’s first scaled Financial Literacy Program for children 3–6 years old, implemented in 450+ ECD Centres.

• Partnered with a leading digital financial institution in SA to co-develop FinLit programs for schools and parents.

• Provided training to over 800 teachers and parents in Financial Literacy methods.

• Designed a complete FinLit toy-and-story curriculum, forming a play-based financial learning toolkit for teachers and parents.

• Supported curriculum review initiatives for higher education programs in Namibia.

• Regular speaker at ECD education conferences