What Qualifications Do I Need To Teach Foundation Phase?

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What Qualifications Do I Need To Teach Foundation Phase?

What Qualifications Do I Need To Teach Foundation Phase?: What do you need to be a foundation phase teacher in South Africa?

Teaching is a truly noble profession that demands a lot from those who choose it—passion, commitment, tolerance, perseverance, and a strong character. It is about making a real difference in the lives of both young and older children, depending on your area of specialization. As a teacher, you’ll have the chance to nurture and shape developing minds while helping kids acquire essential lifelong skills.

Foundation Phase teaching specifically focuses on educating young children, typically ages 0 to 9 (grades R to 3). This phase is all about building the foundational skills they need for growth and learning. The curriculum is designed to promote early literacy, numeracy, and important life skills, with a strong emphasis on each child’s unique needs, interests, and abilities.

If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, you can choose one of two paths: a four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree or a three- or four-year Bachelor’s degree followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Both options will qualify you as a professionally qualified teacher. After you complete your studies, you will need to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) to begin your teaching career.

Therefore, if you are seeking the credentials for teaching at the Foundation Phase, then you are at the right spot to get your accurate information. Read further to discover the necessary and required requirements to become a foundation phase teacher.

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Requirements to Teach Foundation Phase

To qualify for this program, you need one of the following:

  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with degree endorsement, achieving at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning and 40% in Mathematics or 50% in Mathematical Literacy.
  • A Senior Certificate (SC) with matriculation exemption, with at least a D symbol at Higher Grade (HG) or a C symbol at
  • Standard Grade (SG) in the language of teaching and learning, and an F symbol at HG or an E symbol at SG in Mathematics.
  • An exemption from the Matriculation Board, with at least a D symbol at HG or a C symbol at SG in the language of teaching and learning, and an F symbol at HG or an E symbol at SG in Mathematics.

If you do not meet these requirements, you may want to apply for a Higher Certificate in Education, provided you meet the statutory and additional criteria. Please note: Only a Higher Certificate in Education in Foundation Phase or Intermediate Phase can lead into this program.

Curriculum/ Modules For Foundation Phase Teaching

Group A: Compulsory Modules

  • BPT1501 – Being a Professional Teacher
  •  BTE2601 – Becoming a Teacher
  • CIC2601 – Computer Integration in the Classroom
  • EMA1501 – Emergent Mathematics
  •  EML1501 – Emergent Literacy
  • TAM2601 – Teacher as Manager
  • TPF2601 – Teaching Practice for Foundation Phase I

Group B: English

Choose ONE module based on your Grade 12 English results (Home Language or First Additional Language):

  • ENG1514 – Applied English Language for Foundation and Intermediate Phase First Additional Language
  • ENG1515 – Applied English Language for Foundation and Intermediate Phases – Home Language

Group C: First Additional Language (FAL)
If you choose ENG1515 from Group B, select TWO modules from the same language:

  • AFK1503 – Afrikaans Vandag: Taalkunde en skriftelike kommunikasie
  • AFK1506 – Ontdek die Afrikaanse Letterkunde
  • NDE1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – IsiNdebele
  • NDE1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase – IsiNdebele
  • NSO1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – Sepedi
  • NSO1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – Sepedi
  • NSO1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase – Sepedi
  • SSO1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – Sesotho
  • SSO1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase – Sesotho
  • SWA1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – IsiSwati
  • SWA1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – IsiSwati
  • TSO1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – Xitsonga
  • TSO1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – Xitsonga
  • TSW1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – Setswana
  • TSW1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – Setswana
  • VEN1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – Tshivenda
  • VEN1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – Tshivenda
  • XHO1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – IsiXhosa
  • XHO1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – IsiXhosa
  • ZUL1508 – Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language – IsiZulu
  • ZUL1509 – Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language – IsiZulu

Group D: Home Language (HL)
If you choose ENG1514 from Group B, select TWO modules from the same language:

  • AFK1501 – Voetspore: Op reis deur die Afrikaanse Letterkunde
  • AFK1502 – Inleiding tot teksontwerp in Afrikaans
  • NDE1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – IsiNdebele
  • NDE1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – IsiNdebele
  • NSO1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Sepedi
  • NSO1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Sepedi
  • SSO1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Sesotho
  • SSO1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – Sesotho
  • SWA1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – SiSwati
  • SWA1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – SiSwati
  • TSO1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Xitsonga
  • TSO1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – Xitsonga
  • TSW1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Setswana
  • TSW1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – Setswana
  • VEN1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – Tshivenda
  • VEN1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – Tshivenda
  • XHO1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – IsiXhosa
  • XHO1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – IsiXhosa
  • ZUL1505 – Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase – IsiZulu
  • ZUL1506 – Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase – IsiZulu

Second Level

Level Combination Rules:

  • All modules in Group A are compulsory.
  • Choose ONE module from Group B and ONE module from Group C.
  • Based on your selected module from Group B at the first level (ENG1514 or ENG1515), choose the corresponding module at the second level: ENG1514 corresponds to ENG1516; ENG1515 corresponds to ENG1517.
  •  The language module selected from Group C must differ from the languages chosen for Home or First Additional Language.

*Group A: Compulsory Modules

  • CDE3701 – Child Development (Birth to 9)
  • CHL2601 – Children’s Literature
  • ENC1501 – English Teaching for Communication
  • LSK2601 – Life Skills: Social and Personal Development in Foundation Phase
  • LSP1501 – Life Skills: Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Music, and Physical Education in Foundation Phase
  • MFP1501 – Mathematics for Foundation Phase Teachers
  • SED2601 – Sociology of Education
  • TPF2602 – Teaching Practice for Foundation Phase II (Pre-requisite: TPF2601)

Group B: English
Choose ONE of the following: What Qualifications Do I Need to Teach the Foundation Phase?

  • ENG1516 – Applied English Literature for Foundation Phase First Additional Language (Pre-requisite: ENG1514)
  • ENG1517 – Applied English Literature for Foundation Phase Home Language (Pre-requisite: ENG1515)

Group C: African Language or Afrikaans


Choose ONE of the following modules, ensuring it is NOT the same as your Home Language or First Additional Language:

  • AFK1505 – Afrikaans for Beginners
  • NDE1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – IsiNdebele
  • SSO1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – Sesotho
  • SWA1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – SiSwati
  • TSO1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – Xitsonga
  • TSW1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – Setswana
  • VEN1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – Tshivenda
  • XHO1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – IsiXhosa
  • ZUL1507 – Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language – IsiZulu

Third Level

Level Combination Rules:

  • All modules in Group A are compulsory.
  • Choose ONE module from Group B and ONE module from Group C.
  • Based on your selected module from Group B at the second level (ENG1516 or ENG1517), select the corresponding module at the third level: ENG2611 corresponds to ENG1516; ENG2612 corresponds to ENG1517.
  • The module selected from Group C must be in the same language taken as the Home Language. If that option is not available, select the English module.

Group A: Compulsory Modules

  • CUS3701 – Curriculum Studies
  •  HED2601 – History of Education in Foundation Phase
  • HLT3701 – Home Language Teaching
  • IFP3701 – Inclusive Education in Foundation Phase
  • INC3701 – Inclusive Education
  • ISC3701 – Instructional Studies
  • RDF2601 – Resource Development in Foundation Phase
  • TPF3703 – Teaching Practice for Foundation Phase III (Pre-requisite: TPF2602)

Group B: English
Choose ONE of the following:

  • ENG2611 – Applied English Language for Foundation and Intermediate Phase First Additional Language (Pre-requisite: ENG1516 or ENG1514)
  • ENG2612 – Applied English Language for Foundation and Intermediate Phase Home Language (Pre

Foundation Phase teaching sets the stage for lifelong learning by nurturing essential skills and instilling a love for learning in young children. What Qualifications Do I Need to Teach the Foundation Phase? I hope you find this information helpful, Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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