Page 38 - Dainfern Precinct Living issue 9 2022

Education

practical experience,” notes Mokotjo.
Further, in order to access work-
integrated learning in schools, students
would need to present a valid Police
Clearance Certificate and register with
the SA Council for Educators (SACE) in
their final year.
Depending on the specific qualification,
education students’ curricula will likely
include Languages, Natural Science and
Technology, Mathematics and Social
Sciences, Psychology for Educators,
Professional Ethics, Assessment
and Measurement, Educational
Management and Research.
“A quality teaching degree from a
reputable higher education institution
opens the door to a rewarding,
interesting, and varied career trajectory
– provided, of course, that the student
is invested in lifelong learning and
Photo by Mimi Thian continuously improving their skills to
ensure they can in turn prepare learners
to establish careers that will lead to a
prosperous future,” Mokotjo says.

“There currently is a significant and
growing need for a dynamic pipeline
early childhood development (ECD) “These critical components expose of professional teachers, who are able
education catering to children aged students to diverse educational to bring enthusiasm and innovation
from birth through to 4 years of age. settings, which ensure that they not just to the classroom, but to the
develop the practical skills essential for education profession as a whole.
• A Bachelor of Education (BEd) in excellence in teaching. An institution Whereas previously education was
Foundation Phase Teaching (FPT) offering Initial Teacher Education perhaps not always a career of first
is an undergraduate professional qualifications should have a network of choice for many, the field has now
qualification aimed at preparing schools in their area of operation that evolved and truly come into its own,
students to teach learners from gives the students access to differently with new and exciting opportunities for
Grades R to 3. resourced schools, where they can get ambitious young people.”

• A Bachelor of Education (B Ed)
in Intermediate Phase Teaching
is an undergraduate professional
qualification aimed at preparing
students to teach children from
Grades 4 to 7.

• A Postgraduate Certificate in
Education (PGCE) in Senior Phase
(SP) and Further Education and
Training (FET) Teaching.
It is important to ensure that the
chosen qualification is structured in
accordance with the Department of
Higher Education and Training’s (DHET)
Minimum Requirements for Teacher
Education Qualifications (2015) or The
Department of Higher Education and
Training’s (DHET) Policy on Minimum
Requirements for Programmes Leading
to Qualifications in Higher Education
for Early Childhood Development
Educators (2017).
Also of great importance is to Photo by Wan San Yip
ensure that the chosen curriculum
incorporates teaching theory and work-
integrated learning components.

36 DPL issue 9 2022