Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching

Purpose

The purpose of this initial teacher education qualification is to promote access to higher education and to qualify learners to become Intermediate Phase teachers. The 4-year professional teaching qualification in Intermediate Phase Teaching will develop Intermediate Phase classroom teachers with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies identified as critical to enter the world of work as beginner teachers in order to teach learners from Grades 4 to 7. Specifically, the Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching will provide learners with specialisations linked to this phase of teaching along with competence in subject matter knowledge, and the integration of all types of learning associated with the acquisition, integration and application of knowledge for teaching purposes within the South African context (DHET, 2011: 8). This 4-year degree is structured in accordance with the new Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (July 2011). It is also aligned to the new HEQSF guidelines and will provide learners with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies identified to be critical for teaching at this level. Learners will be well-prepared with insight and skills that are both employable and relevant to further specialisation study in support of the principles of life-long learning.

Upon completion of the qualification, the learner will be able to:

• Demonstrate integration of knowledge, skills and abilities when conducting the lesson.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the content of the curricular areas and phase specialisations.
• Demonstrate the ability to carry out the roles of a teacher as appropriate to their practice that includes: specialist in a phase, subject discipline or practice; learning mediator; interpreter and designer of learning programmes and material; leader, administrator and manager; scholar, researcher and lifelong learner; assessor; and community, citizenship and pastoral role.
• Demonstrate the ability to undertake various functions responsibly in terms of manager/administrator/leader within the education system, institution and community, underpinned by respect for and commitment to the teaching profession.

Rationale

"The primary purpose of all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications is to certify that the holder has specialised as a beginner teacher in a specific phase. This specialisation can take a variety of forms, all of which are associated with competence in subject matter knowledge, and it integrates all types of learning" (DHET, 2011: 15). The Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching is intended as an initial professional qualification with specialisation linked to the Intermediate Phase of teaching (Grades 4 to 7). This qualification will provide learners with a thorough grounding in the key disciplines related to Intermediate Phase teaching. This qualification is thus structured in such a way so as to ensure knowledge specialisation linked with the Intermediate Phase of teaching, while simultaneously developing practical skills and work integrated learning experiences in order to prepare beginner teachers for teaching in diverse contexts.

The design for this qualification has been informed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) minimum requirements for teacher education qualifications (2011) coupled with the national drive to produce and increase the number of teacher, while also ensuring a better quality teacher in the classroom. This qualification seeks to provide a fundamental and comprehensive education underpinned by subject knowledge in the teaching in various Intermediate Phase subjects, underpinned by subject knowledge, educational theory and methodology aligned with the requirements of a professionally qualified beginner teacher. This degree will enable qualified learners to work in schools, teaching at the Intermediate Phase. The outcomes in the design of this qualification were identified as critical to drive a successful career in teaching the Intermediate Phase. Therefore, learners will be suitably prepared to move into their teaching career whereby they will be able to demonstrate basic competences of a beginner teacher (as laid out in the Minimum requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications, 2011):

These include the following for newly qualified teachers (DHET, 2011: 53):

1. Posses sound subject knowledge.
2. Know how to teach their subject(s) and how to select, determine the sequence and pace content in accordance with both subject and learner needs.
3. Know who their learners are and how they learn; they must understand their individual needs and tailor their teaching accordingly.
4. Communicate effectively in general, as well as in relation to their subject(s), in order to mediate learning.
5. Possess highly developed literacy, numeracy and Information Technology (IT) skills.
6. Knowledgeable about the school curriculum and be able to unpack its specialised content, as well as being able to use available resources appropriately, so as to plan and design suitable learning programmes.
7. Understand diversity in the South African context in order to teach in a manner that includes all learners. They must also be able to identify learning or social problems and work in partnership with professional service providers to address these.
8. Manage classrooms effectively across diverse contexts in order to ensure a conducive learning environment.
9. Able to assess learners in reliable and varied ways, as well as being able to use the results of assessment to improve teaching and learning.
10. Possess positive work ethic, display appropriate values and conduct them in a manner that befits, enhances and develops the teaching profession.
11. Reflect critically, in theoretically informed ways and in conjunction with their professional community of colleagues on their own practice in order to constantly improve it and adapt it to evolving circumstances.