Teachers needed

Qualified teachers are in high demand. So much so that teachers are included in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s list of ‘Occupations in high demand’.

According to this list of scarce skills, the need for teachers is felt across the education spectrum, from early childhood development practitioners all the way through to senior and FET phases and even university lecturers.

For those interested in pursuing teaching as their career of choice, there are two routes in becoming a teacher; completing a four-year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd) or a three-or four-year Bachelor’s degree, followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

DHET’s Information Guide on Initial Teacher Education notes another consideration for would-be teachers is the level of schooling. It divides the phases into the following specialisations:

• Foundation Phase: (±5 – 9-year-olds): Grades R – 3
• Intermediate Phase: (±10 – 12-year-olds): Grades 4 – 6
• Senior Phase: (±13 – 15-year-olds): Grades 7 – 9
• Further Education and Training (FET) Phase: (±16 – 18-year-olds): Grades 10 – 12

Currently, there are 22 public HEIs in South Africa that offer teaching qualifications. To locate a HEI in your area and read more on the funding and bursary options available to those wanting to pursue teaching, go to DHET’s Information Guide on Initial Teacher Education.