Teacher Education: The South African Context

Teacher education in South Africa is a matter of concern. It is a concern because students who choose teaching as a career are few. The profession is surviving because of students who pass Grade 12 and find out that they are not qualifying to pursue their first prioritized, desired or chosen career in the university and hence turn to teaching as an alternative career. It becomes important to keep these teachers in the profession. It should always be remembered that teaching is a noble profession. It needs a professional individual who is dedicated to his work and who will practice roles of a teacher as per the norms and standards for educators. Teaching needs a professional individual who will be a role model to his learners. Students who choose teaching as a second choice and even those who choose teaching as their first priority career path need to undergo three components of teacher education in order for them to remain in the teaching profession for their entire career. In this conceptual paper researchers would like to emphasize the importance of incorporating three components of teacher education for the career span of teachers. The three components, which will lead the discussion, are initial teacher training, induction, and teacher development or continuing professional development.