Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching

The STADIO Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching is a formal qualification aimed at people who want to work with young children in the Foundation Phase of a school, from Grade R to Grade 3.

The Foundation Phase is the first phase of formal schooling in South Africa, and is very important in establishing the basis on which learners will grow in formal schooling. Learners who do well in the Foundation Phase in general will do well in later phases.

The Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching will enable you to promote the child’s social, physical, intellectual and emotional development. It is your care, oversight and attention to detail that will help young children grow to their full potential.

 

SCHOOL-BASED TEACHING PRACTICE

Teaching practice is an integral part of teacher education that provides you with the opportunity to experience the excitement of a classroom environment and contributes to your professional development as a future teacher. Teaching practice is compulsory in the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching programme, in every year of study. Various teaching practice assessment methods are used during this time to evaluate the student, including reports from the school, the School of Education (SOE) teaching practice assessor, the school mentors, and your eventual Portfolio of Evidence. In addition, the SOE monitors and verifies the placement of all students at schools. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for leave from an employer for the required number of weeks for teaching practice in schools.

A student can only commence with teaching practice once the placement has been verified by the Teaching Practice Department of the SOE.

Please note the following:
You will have to spend a minimum of 21 weeks over a 4-year period in different schools in foundation phase (Grades R-3) under the supervision of a mentor teacher as part of your studies. A student must experience teaching in all the foundation phase grades. You are required to attend the school from Monday to Friday for the full duration of the school day. Transport costs to and from school are to the account of the student.

If you are already employed at a school, your school must meet the minimum requirements for a functional school and your mentor teacher must be suitably qualified. If your school does not meet our minimum requirements or you don’t have a suitably qualified teacher in your school who can act as a mentor teacher, you will have to spend your teaching practice weeks in another school. You are required to provide a letter of employment from the school to the Teaching Practice Department.

You will be required to video-record and/or audio-record some lesson presentations and post-lesson observation discussions and upload these to the Learning Management System for marking, so you have to ensure that you have a suitable tablet or laptop device with sufficient storage space and data, as stipulated in the Minimum System Requirements section of this Information Pack.

You will receive full details of how your teaching practice sessions will work during the course of your studies. Refer to the teaching practice module descriptions below for more information.

 

FURTHER STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Once you have passed the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching, you may continue your studies towards a relevant Honours degree. For more information, please contact STADIO.

 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING

Out of sight does not equal out of mind at STADIO! 

• C4SS - CENTRE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

The Centre for Student Success supports students with academic, psychological and financial wellness.

• SAS - STUDENT ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT

Student Administration & Support is the first port of call for all student queries and requests, they can channel your requests to the right individuals.

THE ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR THE BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING ARE:

 

If you obtained your matric from 2008 onwards:

• a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with:

  • a minimum of 50% in four 20-credit subjects; and

  • a minimum of 50% for English (either Home Language or First Additional Language) OR

• a National Senior Certificate – Vocational Level 4 (NC(V)) with a minimum of 60% in three fundamental subjects including English and Mathematics; and a minimum of 70% in four vocational subjects

 

If you obtained your matric before 2008:

• a Senior Certificate (SC) with degree endorsement; and a minimum of 50% (D) in English; OR
• the STADIO Higher Certificate in Pre-School Education (NQF Level 5); OR
• the STADIO Diploma in Grade R Teaching (NQF Level 6); OR 
• a Higher Certificate (NQF Level 5), Advanced Certificate (NQF Level 6) or Diploma (NQF Level 6) in the field of:

  • Education; OR 

  • Early Childhood Development N4-N6 (National N Diploma); OR

  • Adult Basic Education (ABET Level 5)

 

In addition, applicants will be required to submit a Teaching Affidavit with their application. You may download it HERE and submit upon application.

 

OTHER ACCESS PATHWAYS

Recognition of prior learning may lead to entry or an advanced credit standing at the discretion of the School.

 

MATURE AGE EXEMPTION

Candidates who do not meet the requirements for degree studies listed above, but who have reached the ages of 23 or 45 respectively, may apply for Mature Age Exemption via the USAF Matriculation Board under the following conditions:

• Candidates who have reached/will reach the age of 23 during the first year of registration and who have achieved a Senior Certificate with a pass in at least four subjects, including one of the official languages experience and including one subject on Higher Grade; OR
• Candidates who have reached the age of 45 before or during the first year of registration.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Language

Due to the language requirements of the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching, you can currently only enrol in this qualification if you have passed one of the following home languages and first additional languages at Grade 12 or NQF Level4:

• Afrikaans
• English
• IsiXhosa
• isiZulu
• Sepedi
• Setswana
• Xitsonga

Please note: Your home language choice must be the same as your home language passed in matric (or at NQF Level 4). Students who take English Home Language cannot also take English First Additional Language and must choose a different First Additional Language. Students who do not take English Home Language must take English First Additional Language.

 

STADIO is committed to achieving inclusion and to overcome barriers to access and success in higher education. Applicants who do not meet the stated admission criteria, but who have relevant work experience and/or prior learning may apply for admission under the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). STADIO admits a maximum of 10% per cohort via RPL. The implementation of RPL is context-specific, in terms of discipline, programme and level.  Further information may be obtained from your Student Recruitment Advisor.