What is an Education?
Education is the transmission of knowledge, skills, and character traits and comes in many forms. Formal education happens in a complex institutional framework, like public schools.
Where Can I Study Education In South Africa
Unisa
The University of South Africa, or what we all call Unisa offers Teaching qualifications to study through their open distance learning method, which is a combination of online and self-study.
If you’re thinking of studying teaching at Unisa, you are then going to be opened to a world of possibilities.
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) offers teaching as part of the Faculty of Education as well as their Faculty of Arts.
Through their Faculty of Education, you can get a Bachelor of Education which will take you four years to complete. Through the Faculty of Arts, you will get a normal Bachelor of Arts degree and following that, you would need to do a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) to be qualified to teach.
University of the Witwatersrand
Wits, or as it’s formally known, the University of the Witwatersrand has a School of Education where you can study towards the following qualifications: Bachelor of Education, Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), Postgraduate Diploma in Deaf Education (PGDip) and postgraduate Education degrees as well.
From its early years, a feature of tuition at Wits is the close integration of formal studies with practical teaching experience. This ensures that teaching theory is always fully informed by classroom praxis.
University of Johannesburg
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is another place in South Africa where you can study teaching. Their teaching courses are offered through their Faculty of Education.
UJ offers a Bachelor of Education, Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) as well as postgraduate education degrees. They offer Initial Professional Education of Teachers Programmes, Continuous Professional Development of Teachers Programmes as well as Masters and Doctoral Programmes in the Faculty.
Tshwane University of Technology
Another option to study teaching is Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). They offer the following courses: Bachelor in Education, Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching, Advanced Certificate in Education as well as other postgraduate qualifications.
TUT’s School of Education provides studies in aspects of education that are implicated in Education, Training, and Development through its four Departments, namely Educational Foundation, with a focus on the fundamentals of education, training, and development of theories related to educational studies.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has its Faculty of Education which offers a four-year Bachelor of Education qualification.
They also offer a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Education, the Advanced Certificate in Education, and Honours, Master’s and doctoral degrees.
How much is it to study teaching in South Africa?
Estimated tuition fees per year (SA and SADC countries citizens)
| Faculty of Education | 1st year | 3rd year |
|---|---|---|
| BEd (Intermediate Phase) | 44 000 – 61 000 | 42 000 – 72 000 |
| BEd (Senior Phase) | 47 000 – 60 000 | 37 000 – 50 000 |
| Higher Certificate: Sports | 25 000 | |
| PGCE: FET Teaching | 36 000 – 59 000 |
How many years does it take to study Education in South Africa?
You may follow one of two routes in becoming a teacher, namely: a four-year Bachelor of Education degree (B. Ed.); a three-or four-year Bachelor’s degree, followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Once completed, both routes lead to classification as a professionally qualified teacher.
What qualifications do I need to become a teacher in South Africa?
To become a teacher in South Africa, you need a Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) after obtaining a National Senior Certificate (NSC), proficiency in the language of instruction, and a passion for education.
Which teachers are in demand in South Africa?
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, there is a rising demand for literacy teachers in early grades and a worrying shortage of qualified foundation phase teachers who use South Africa’s African languages in the classroom.