Studies have suggested that South Africa faces a serious teacher shortage and overcrowded classrooms have become a major challenge in the countrys education system.
The reality is that many students wishing to pursue education degrees lack funds to put them through their schooling. This makes the need for government funding more crucial than ever.
There are a number of government bursaries that offer funding for teaching each year, and students are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as applications are open.
Here are a few government bursaries offered for teaching:
- National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
- Funza Lushaka Teaching Bursary
- Department of Education Bursary
- Department of Higher Education Bursary
- Department of Correctional Services
- Mpumalanga Province Bursary
- Northwest Province Bursary
Students wishing to pursue a career in education can do so by following one of two routes, either commit to a four-year Bachelor of Education degree (B.Ed.) or do a three-or four-year bachelor’s degree, followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
One of the first decisions education students have to consider is the age range they would like to teach. The age ranges are divided into phases.
The phase specialisations are as follows:
- 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
Certain higher education institutions allow for a combination of phase specialisation. This means that students would then get to specialise in two consecutive phases.
Find more information on funding and bursary opportunities on the Bursaries Portal.
