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What is a PGCE?
The PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is an initial teacher training qualification that students can apply for once they have completed their degree.
A student may apply for selection provided they have obtained a relevant bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent qualification approved by Senate as suitable for School teaching in the Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Phase of Schooling. Total credits for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education are 128.
The minimum entry qualification into a Postgraduate Certificate in Education is an approved undergraduate Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7 or 8), which includes appropriate and sufficient academic subject content knowledge to teach school subjects for a particular phase of schooling. The basic qualification should include at least 32 credits at Level 6 for teaching a Senior Phase subject specialisation and 64 credits (at least 32 credits at NQF Level 7) to teach a Further Education and Training subject specialisation.
The PGCE prepares graduates for teaching through an intensive one-year full-time programme.
The PGCE will enable students to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) as qualified teachers (refer to www.sace.org.za).
We are currently offering a PGCE in the following TWO phase specialisations:
- Further Education and Training Phase: Grades 10 to 12
- Senior and Further Education and Training Phase: Grades 7 to 12
There are specific curriculum rules in the College of Humanities Handbook that must be adhered to:
- Students who register for the Further Education and Training Phase Teaching specialisation need to qualify for TWO FET Teaching Specialisations from the list of approved FET Teaching Specialisations.
- Students who register for the Senior and Further Education and Training Phase Teaching specialisation need to qualify for ONE FET Teaching Specialisation from the list of approved FET Teaching Specialisations and ONE SP Teaching Specialisation from the list of approved SP Teaching Specialisations.
The PGCE focuses primarily on developing teaching skills (HOW TO TEACH), and not knowledge of the subject/s you intend to teach (WHAT TO TEACH). Students are therefore expected to have the necessary subject disciplinary knowledge in their chosen subjects for teaching in a school before embarking on a PGCE. What subjects a student will qualify to teach in, are therefore determined by the structure of a student’s initial degree (see list of subjects below).
Please note the following:
- A minimum of 5 students per module is needed for offering of a module
- Some modules are offered on one campus only – see below
Further Education and Training phase subject specialisations (grades 10 to 12): Business Studies Teaching, Computer Application Technology Teaching (offered at EDW only), Dramatic Arts Teaching (offered at EDW only), Economics Teaching, English Home Language Teaching, English First Additional Language Teaching, Geography Teaching, History Teaching (offered at EDW only), Information Technology Teaching (offered at EDW only), isiZulu Home Language Teaching, isiZulu First Additional Language Teaching, Life Sciences Teaching, Life Orientation Teaching, Mathematics Literacy Teaching, Mathematics Teaching FET, Music Teaching (offered at EDW only), Physical Sciences Teaching, Tourism Teaching (offered at EDW only)
Senior Phase of General Education and Training subject specialisations: Creative Arts Teaching (offered at EDW only), Economic Management Sciences Teaching, Mathematics Teaching SP, Natural Science Teaching, Social Sciences Teaching, Technology Teaching
How will the selection process be organised?
The selection process requires the subject specialisation co-ordinators to approve the underpinning subjects taken in the initial degree for selection into specific subjects for either of the two PGCE programmes on offer namely:
- Students who register for the Further Education and Training Phase Teaching specialisation need to qualify for TWO FET Teaching Specialisations from the list of approved FET Teaching Specialisations.
- Students who register for the Senior and Further Education and Training Phase Teaching specialisation need to qualify for ONE FET Teaching Specialisation from the list of approved FET Teaching Specialisations and ONE SP Teaching Specialisation from the list of approved SP Teaching Specialisations.
International students’ qualifications must be verified by SAQA to ensure equivalence to the relevant NQF levels of the South African framework. See contact details below for staff dealing with admissions.
What are the requirements for a PGCE qualification?
The PGCE consists of eight modules of 16 credits each = 128 credits:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Education Studies: Compulsory Module Teaching, Learning and Contexts: EDES612 (16 credits) | Education Studies: Compulsory Module Curriculum and Policy: EDES613 (16 credits) |
| Compulsory Module: School Experience 601 EDTP611 (16 credits) (consists of campus-based component AND school-based component – teaching practice in schools in the second school term: April-May) | Compulsory Module: School Experience 602 EDTP612 (16 credits) (consists of campus-based component AND school-based component – teaching practice in schools in third school term: July-Aug) |
| Teaching Subject Specialisation 1 First Semester Module (16 credits) | Teaching Subject Specialisation 1 Second Semester Module (16 credits) |
| Teaching Subject Specialisation 2 First Semester Module (16 credits) | Teaching Subject Specialisation 2 Second Semester Module (16 credits) |
| Language Proficiency (0 credits) * | Computer Literacy (0 credits)* |
Computer endorsements:
Computer literacy endorsement: Students graduating with a PGCE must be computer literate. Completed recognised courses/modules related to computer literacy will be considered. Students should also take the initiative to obtain the necessary computer literacy competence before applying for a PGCE or while doing the PGCE.
Language endorsement:
A language proficiency for Language of Teaching and Learning (LOTL); and Language of Conversational Competence LOCC) is done based on your grade 12 national certificate and language used as medium of instruction at your higher education institution. The language modules/ courses taken in the initial degree/diploma will also be considered for the endorsement.
HOW TO APPLY
For further enquiries please contact the Admissions Officers in the School of Education.
Ms Sibongile Mbanjwa
Edgewood Campus
Mbanjwa@ukzn.ac.za
031 260 3631
Mrs Geshree Naicker
Pietermaritzburg Campus
naickerg@ukzn.ac.za
033 260-6130
NB: The closing date for application for admission to the PGCE is 30 September (late applications may not be accepted).
A non-refundable application fee of R250 is payable for local students and R470 for international students. All application fees are payable to the University of KwaZulu-Natal and can be paid into the following
Account: Standard Bank
- Account number: 053081072
- Account type: Business Current Account
- Branch code: Westville: 045426
Please provide your details on the deposit slip and attach a copy of the proof of payment to your application
Visit the UKZN website on https://soe.ukzn.ac.za for full details on how to apply.
What about Fees & Financial Aid?
The tuition fee for 2019 was ± R25 000, more accurate amounts may be obtained from the student fees department.
Application for financial assistance can be done through: Edu-Loan (private financial company) on Client Services – 0860 555544 or e-mail: info@eduloan.co.za, or National Student Financial Aid Scheme on (031) 260 3603.
Funza Lushaka bursaries are available to PGCE students in priority areas. For further details contact the Funza Lushaka Administrator: Email: Funzalushaka@ukzn.ac.za | Tel: +27 (0) 31 260 3208