Bana Development Centre supports and educates toddlers between the ages of 3-6 years and Grade R.  Our main mission is to provide a safe environment where kids can develop and grow to their full potential.  They are taken on a journey of self-development in a warm atmosphere of special understanding of toddlers.  The centre fulfils in the social, physical, emotional development and psychological needs of each toddler.

Bana is an NPC organisation (Registration number 2008/015574/08) with Directors and members that help the principal with decisions of the school .  Day to day management is done by the Principal.  Parents as well as staff members are incorporated in these processes.

Bana is looking forward and is overly excited about the future.  We are watching our old scholars to see if we really made a change in their lives, as moving on to Grade 6 and 7 and later become matriculates.

History:  A previous General Manager of Kumba Iron Ore wanted to understand why so little engineering bursaries are awarded each year to matriculates from the Northern-Cape.  The mine wanted to financially contribute more to the secondary schools in town.  A team was tasked with investigating this problem, and the answer was:  EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT!  This led to the birth of this massive community project, sponsored by Kumba Iron Ore, which opened its doors to approximately 120 learners on the
4th February 2008.

Bana started out in 2008 with six classes and 120 toddlers.  Since then, two more classes were added to accommodate English toddlers in an English environment.  The numbers of toddlers increased to 260 with 13 classes. 5 of these classes are English.   The staff increased from 10 to 25 at present. We fulfil our task as a training center as well.  From June 2008 students were taken in to assist in the classes.  We are also hosting students preparing to become qualified teachers along with their studies they are busy with.  We regularly get students in that come to do their practical with us.

We still manage to bring affordable education to all out toddlers.  As from 2008 to 2016 funding from various companies were received.  By 2016 we reached self-sufficiency.

On the educational side, we make use of a few mentors to help us with latest research and knowledge applicable in the classrooms.  We are constantly busy with courses to get insight on brain development.  We have a philosophy of preparing the toddlers for future learning.  That we do by making the utmost use of a developmental program which includes a lot of movement.  We act forensic – by searching for the back lock or developmental problem behind the behavior of a child.  We teach the toddlers to be responsible for their behavior and to bear the consequences of their decisions, good or bad.  
We are looking forward to taking hundreds of toddlers through our hands and to give them the input, values, and education they most need.