To become a teacher, you will need to first decide what you would like to teach and which age group. There are four different levels of teaching, namely the foundation phase, intermediate phase, senior phase, and further education and training phase.
The foundation phase includes Grade R to 3, the intermediate phase is from Grade 4 to 6, the senior phase includes Grade 7 to 9, and the further education and training (FET) phase are from Grade 10 to 12.
There are two routes which you can choose from to become a teacher:
- 4-year Bachelor of Education (BEd).
- 3-to-4-year Bachelor's degree, followed by 1-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
Studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree is considered the most direct route to becoming a teacher.
The other option is to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). This is a one-year course that is full-time, but can only be done after first completing a three or four-year bachelor’s degree.
The minimum requirements to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, will differ from university to university but applicants will need to have completed their National Schooling Certificate.
Applicants will also need to have passed mathematics or mathematical literacy, as well as obtain a minimum APS score of 26.
After you complete your four years of studying, you will need to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) in order to be employed as an educator.
If you want to study to become a teacher but don't have the funds, check out the Funza Lushaka Bursary (Teaching bursaries available to students.)
