Categories: Matric questions

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.

READ ALSO: Can I pass Matric with 5 subjects

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.

RELATED LINKS: