Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching
Education, Training and Development - Schooling
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Details
Purpose:
The qualification aims to provide teachers with the required knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance teaching and learning in all Foundation Phase subjects (Languages, Mathematics and Life Skills), from Grade R to Grade 3. The Exit Level Outcomes and the Associated Assessment Criteria are designed to prepare teachers for a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence enabling them to engage successfully with issues and challenges in school. The Foundation Phase qualification aims to ensure that graduates are well-rounded, critically and socially engaged with necessary subject-content knowledge, pedagogical-content knowledge, educational theory, and teaching methodologies. This prepares them to participate responsibly as academically and professionally qualified teachers working towards a diverse and democratic society, transforming the educational landscape across the South African context.
Rationale:
The challenges in South African education and the poor performance of learners in critical learning areas underscore the importance of equipping future teachers with essential skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes. It is crucial to meet learners' needs and education goals, contributing to the building of a socially just society. South Africa requires responsible, accountable, and highly motivated teachers who can apply theory to practice while critically reflecting on approaches within diverse learning contexts. National Reviews of Teacher Education qualifications in 2007/08 emphasized the need to redesign Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching (BEd FP) qualifications. This led to the creation of the new Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ) Policy 38487 (2015).
The shortage of qualified teachers in the Foundation Phase contributes to the crisis in the South African schooling system. This qualification aims to address the need by preparing competent and properly equipped newly qualified teachers for the Foundation Phase. The BEd FP Teaching aims to produce passionate, engaged, knowledgeable, effective, and compassionate teachers committed to advancing social justice and public good. By improving the quality of teacher education and development, it seeks to enhance teaching and learning in Foundation Phase classrooms. The qualification focuses on understanding literacy and numeracy development, instructional practices, teacher preparation, and resources essential for effective teacher education in the languages of learning.
Outcomes
- Critically engage with theoretical knowledge related to educational philosophy, sociology, history, psychology, politics and economics from an educational perspective.
- Select, organise, design, plan and implement systematic and effective teaching, learning and assessment in different educational context to respond to diverse learner needs.
- Coherently integrate educational theory, pedagogical content knowledge and subject discipline knowledge in praxis.
- Demonstrate the ability to teach effectively in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa as Language of Learning and Teaching [LOLT].
- Demonstrate conversational competence in isiXhosa and Afrikaans.
- Mediate learning through developing numeracy, literacy and information technology skills and sound subject knowledge in Language, Numeracy and Life Skills.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes
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Explain, identify, compare, analyse, synthesise, evaluate, and critically reflect on aspects pertaining to knowledge related to the 21st Century learners and their development in social contexts by using a variety of pedagogies.
- Utilize various pedagogies to explain, identify, compare, analyse, synthesise, evaluate, and critically reflect on aspects related to the development of 21st Century learners in social contexts.
- Demonstrate an understanding of teaching for the 21st Century teacher by embracing humanising pedagogies.
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Select and sequence content effectively.
- Plan, select, and design appropriate teaching, learning, and assessment strategies based on learner needs.
- Communicate effectively to mediate learning.
- Implement ICT for teaching and learning.
- Reflect critically as an individual and in community on effective and ineffective teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.
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Facilitate learning by implementing effective classroom management strategies.
- Portray a positive and professional work ethic and values related to the teaching profession.
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Demonstrate the ability to teach effectively in English and Afrikaans or isiXhosa as Language of Learning and Teaching [LOLT].
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Converse at a conversational level in isiXhosa and Afrikaans.
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Formulate knowledge and practice standards in terms of what and how literacy, numeracy, and life skills should be included and taught within a foundation phase classroom to improve the quality of literacy, numeracy, and life skills.
Integrated Assessment
- The procedures and requirements in the institution's assessment policy will be followed.
- Various assessment types will be used:
- Diagnostic Assessment: To establish learners' existing knowledge.
- Formative Assessment: Continuous feedback to learners and aids in planning teaching content.
- Summative Assessment: Formal assessments like examinations for promotion and graduation.
- Integrated Assessment: Learners develop an evidence-based portfolio reflecting professional engagement in an educational context.
- Evaluative Assessment: Feedback on the quality of the Bachelor of Education modules.
A wide range of assessment activities will be employed, including assignments, tests, projects, reflections, presentations, case studies, role play, posters, electronically delivered projects, journal writing, lesson planning, group assignments, online assessments, school-based lesson presentations, formal final assessments, and capstone portfolios.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.