Finding the teaching colleges is important if you want to kick start your career on the right note. Teaching is one of the noble professions of the world and one that is foundational to many other careers and life-giving paths. Those seeking to become professional teachers must get the right training and support to grow and become excellent professionals. This starts from the training level.

Teaching Colleges South Africa
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Fortunately, South Africa has realized the potential of getting good teachers and has invested immensely in this sector, which explains why it is possible to find outstanding teaching colleges. Keep reading to uncover some of the best teachings in South African schools that are worth investing your time and effort in. Find out what it takes to be part of these colleges and if they are worth it in the first place.

University of South Africa (UNISA)

UNISA is one of the most reputable colleges or teaching institutions in South Africa. It is known for churning out properly trained and equipped graduates who become excellent professionals at workstations. The same applies to teachers that go through the university’s system. These teachers are often equipped to handle students at all stages of academic studies. UNISA has different levels of education courses. These include:

  • Higher certificates
  • Advanced certificates
  • Postgraduate certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Advanced diplomas
  • Bachelors degrees
  • Honors degrees
  • Postgraduate diplomas

Regardless of your level, UNISA is an excellent place to advance your teaching training or get started on the same. First, visit the official website to determine if you qualify to join the school at any level. Once you meet the qualifications, including the APS score teaching requirements, you will be directed on how to apply and pay for the school. Then, you can trust that UNISA is an excellent choice to help you achieve your dreams of being a renowned teacher.

University of Western Cape (UWC)

UWC offers teaching under their faculty of education and faculty of Arts. The education faculty offers a bachelor’s degree in education, which takes four years to complete. On the other hand, the faculty of arts offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and a postgraduate certificate of education, which is an equivalent qualification that enables graduates to teach. All you have to do is visit the school’s website to learn more about the qualifications required since not every person gets into the school for education courses.

The University of Witwatersrand

This is the other university in South Africa with a good qualification school. Courses available here include:

  • Bachelor of Education
  • Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Deaf Education (PGDip)
  • Postgraduate Education

Since its inception, the school’s culture has incorporated practical’s and theory in its tuition system. Therefore, if you want to have a full experience of both theory and integrated classroom lessons, this is the best college to attend for your teaching training.

University of Johannesburg (UJ)

All education courses at UJ are offered through their faculty of education. These include:

  • Bachelor of Education
  • Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • Postgraduate education degrees.
  • Initial Professional Education of Teachers Programmes
  • Continuous Professional Development of Teachers Programmes
  • Masters and Doctoral Programmes.

You have to get in touch with the university to know the entry requirements since the details may be adjusted depending on the needs at the time.

See: Teaching Bursaries

Tshwane University of Technology(TUT)

TUT also offers education courses that can prepare trainees to become great teachers. Some of their course include Bachelor in Education, Advanced Certificate in Education, Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching, and postgraduate qualifications.

The school offers these courses through the school of education, which has four different departments.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

CPUT has a faculty of education that offers a four-year-long bachelor’s in education. It also offers other education courses, including Post Graduate certificate in education, a postgraduate diploma in education, an advanced certificate in education, and master’s, honors, and doctoral degrees in education. The university is the largest teaching school in the entire Western Cape region. IKt takes in students from across the country and is known to offer excellent services. The school is proud of helping future teachers start and accomplish their dreams in the noble teaching profession.

University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town is another excellent choice for people pursuing teaching professionally. The college offers several teaching qualifications, including Advanced Certificate in Education, PGDip in Educational Technology, Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Bachelor in Education Honours, and the Higher Education Studies Programmes. The school also has post-graduate teaching, but these only occur in the School of Education.

Stellensbosch University (SU)

As an enthusiastic student, you will find that the faculty of education at SU is worth your time. The school offers undergraduate and post-graduate programs depending on your qualifications. A good example would be a Bachelors’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Education Honors. You can also pursue your Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the school.

Rhodes University

This is the ideal school for people wanting to study teaching in the Eastern Cape region. The teaching programs offered under this faculty include BEd, postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, PGCE, and different postgrad degrees.

Central University of Technology

Several education courses are offered at the university under the Faculty of Humanities but in the professional studies department. The school bachelor of Education. Under the Postgraduate Studies in Education, several other courses are offered. These include PGCE, Master of Education, Doctor in Education, and Educational Management.

Vaal University of Technology

The education department of VUT falls under the faculty of Human Sciences. It offers several courses, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PG Dip HE) and the basic Bachelor of Education (Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching). You need to get in touch with the school to know what qualifications are required for these courses.

University of Venda

Better known as Univen, this university has a school of education and offers different education courses. The first course you will come across is the Bachelor of Education: FET. This teaching degree equips and prepares teachers who qualify to work/ teach at both Senior Phases and Further Education and Training (FET) band. Besides that, it is one of the schools that offers teaching courses for early education. Some of the courses offered under this category include Bachelor of Education in the Foundation phase and their relevant postgraduate qualifications.

University of Zulu Land

Whether you want to study Bachelor of Education or PGCE, the University of Zululand is a great place to look. They train their students and concentrate on offering high-quality support and training that helps to support different students from various backgrounds. In addition, the school concentrates on establishing partnerships, a culture of research, and community engagement in its teaching programs. This way, they can create wholesome graduands whose focus will not only be on teaching.

Other Teaching Universities and Colleges

There are so many options for students to choose from. Other colleges and universities offering great teaching courses that equip students to become the best teachers in the future include:

  • Nelson Mandela University
  • University7 of Fort Hare
  • Northwest University
  • University of Kwazulu Natal
  • University of Pretoria
  • Walter Sisulu University
  • University of Limpopo
  • University of Mpumalanga
  • University of the Free State

See: Education bursaries in South Africa

TVET Colleges

Besides the universities, we also have TVET colleges. These are the colleges that are not universities but offer an equally good courses in the same category. You may These are affordable training institutions and take students who may not have qualified for university entry. Therefore, we shall classify the colleges based on the location they are found.

Teaching Colleges in Gauteng

  • Central Johannesburg TVET College
  • Ekurhuleni East TVET College
  • Ekurhuleni West TVET College
  • Sedibeng TVET College
  • South West Gauteng TVET College
  • Tshwane North TVET College
  • Tshwane South TVET College
  • Western TVET College

Colleges in Eastern cape

  • Buffalo City TVET College
  • Eastcape Midlands TVET College
  • Ikhala TVET College
  • Ingwe TVET College
  • King Hintsa TVET College
  • King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College
  • Lovedale TVET College
  • Port Elizabeth TVET College

Colleges in KLwazulu Natal

  • Coastal TVET College
  • Elangeni TVET College
  • Esayidi TVET College
  • Majuba TVET College
  • Mnambithi TVET College
  • Mthashana TVET College
  • Thekwini TVET College
  • Umfolozi TVET College
  • Umgungundlovu TVET College

Colleges in Western Cape

  • Boland TVET College
  • College of Cape Town
  • False Bay College
  • Northlink TVET College
  • South Cape TVET College
  • West Coast TVET College

The Bottom line

The most important thing is to find a college that works for you. Ensure that you are qualified to join the school and that you can afford the tuition fees and any other charges that may be required. The good news is that there are several options you could go for. It is possible to start from the lowest level and build your career upwards until you attain the highest level of a teaching career. It is possible to actualize your plan to become a good teacher with proper training. Research and check what is recommended and needed to join the course depending on the level you want to start.