Teaching Practice

Teaching Practice is a compulsory component of the curriculum of the B. Ed. Foundation Phase programme and is a very important aspect of teacher training. Students are given the opportunity to apply theoretical learning and learn from, through and in the practice of experienced teachers in a variety of classroom situations. It is therefore an integration of theoretical knowledge and authentic practical learning in the context of a classroom and school. 

During the Teaching Practice period students are required to be at the schools full time, which includes time allocated for extramural activities (including weekends). This is to enable them to become immersed in the full spectrum of school life and the different aspects of the teaching profession. Foundation Phase teachers must be capable of teaching all four Foundation Phase subjects (Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics and Life Skills), drawing from a broad range of general knowledge, which will support and enable them to implement the national school curriculum (CAPS) (MRTEQ, 2014).

Teaching Practice takes place during each cluster from Cluster 2 onwards. Please take note of the prescribed time for Teaching Practice:

The dates are scheduled into each semester based on the academic programme at TOGI, school terms and other arrangements with schools. It usually takes place early in the second and third term. Students visit different schools and different grades in the Foundation Phase each year. It is only in exceptional circumstances, and with permission from the Teaching Practice Unit, that the same school can be visited more than once. This will have to be formally applied for and follow a protocol of possible approval or rejection. Students are encouraged to visit different types of schools, e.g. city, rural, well-resourced, poorly-resourced, skills, Montessori and private. This is to familiarise students with a range of contexts and learning experiences. Students can contact the Teaching Practice office (tp.bedfp@togi.ac.za) to receive guidelines for selecting appropriate, functional schools.

It is crucial to note that students must attend a brick-and-mortar school for each Teaching Practice. Pre-service teachers must be exposed to real life classroom and schooling experiences under the supervision of professional teachers. Therefore, students must include the Teaching Practice requirements into the planning of their studies.  They might need to make arrangements to get leave from work, care for children or other dependents, or other external factors that might