With a strong demand for high-quality teachers in South Africa and the fact that the government spends more on education than any other sector, becoming a teacher in South Africa can be a great career opportunity. If you love kids and all things education-related, read on to see what it takes to become a teacher in the rainbow nation!
What do South African teachers do?
The education sector is very demanding, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. If you decide to become a teacher in SA, you’ll be working for the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The department is responsible for primary and secondary state education in SA.
The educational system consists of:
- General Education and Training (GET) for grades 0-9
- Further Education and Training (FET) for grades 10-12
- Non-Higher Education Facilities of vocational nature
The role of a primary school teacher
Primary school teachers are expected to develop schemes of work in line with the curriculum of the school they work for. To facilitate learning, these teachers need to establish respectful relationships with their pupils to keep the learning environment and resources organised.
Primary school teachers work with young kids, which means they need to help develop and foster skills and social abilities of their pupils while still preparing them for examinations.
The role of a secondary school teacher
Secondary school teachers work with older students, which is a world apart from a primary school teacher’s job. These teachers observe and record the progress of their pupils while creating lesson plans that align with the national objective. Unlike primary school teachers, secondary school teachers are generally tasked with teaching a single subject instead of various topics. Not only do high school teachers have to prepare their pupils for exams, but they also have to prepare them for further education at colleges or universities.
What salaries do South African teachers get?
Most folks believe that private school teachers earn more than state school teachers, but according to the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA), this isn’t always the case. Most state school teachers earn additional benefits such as medical aid contributions, housing subsidies, and pension fund contributions, which can easily add 35% to a state school teacher’s annual salary.
According to the Department of Basic Education, newly graduated teachers earn roughly R185,000 per year. Add a few years of experience and the extras offered to state school teachers, and that amount can easily add to about R253,000 annually. Without any added benefits, the maximum salary teachers can expect is around R415,000 per year, according to the DBE.
P5 school principals are among the best-paid employees in the industry earning a minimum of R232,000 per year. Master teachers (with about 35 years of experience) can expect to earn at least R260,000 per year.
What does it take to become a teacher in South Africa?
Teachers undergo rigorous training before they can be employed as official teachers in South Africa. They need a National Senior Certificate before being considered for a degree course. The most basic degree teachers can study is a Bachelor of Education, which should suffice for a primary school teaching job. High school teachers need degrees in the subject they intend to teach.
The undergraduate studies for teachers include a four-year Bachelor of Education degree specialising in the Foundation, Intermediate, and Senior Phases. It also includes the Further Education and Training Phase.
You can also do a 3-4 year course in specialised topics like Arts or Computer Science. This would have to be followed up with a 1-year Postgraduate Certification in Education (PGCE). After you become a qualified teacher, you have to register with the South African Council for Educators.
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