Government’s plans to strengthen the capacity of the formal teacher education system in the country will get a significant boost when Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, officially launches the new Teacher Education programme at the Siyabuswa Campus in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, 26 February.
The re-opening of the Siyabuswa Campus, which used to be known as the Kwa Ndebele College of Education, is part of Government’s programme to address the gap that currently exists between teacher supply and demand. It will form part of the new university to be built in Mpumalanga.
“This is indeed an exciting day for South Africa’s entire education system. This programme is informed by the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development (ISPFTED), which I launched with Minister Motshekga two years ago. In terms of planning our projections are that we will be producing in excess of 14 000 new teachers by 2014,” says Minister Nzimande.
Members of the Media are invited to both the event and a Media Briefing by Minister Nzimande afterwards:
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2013
Time: 09h00 – 12h30
Venue: Siyabuswa Campus (former Kwa Ndebele College of Education), Bhekimfundo Drive, Siyabuswa (Close to Cullinan)
In attendance to this historical milestone for teacher education in South Africa will be the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr David Mabuza, King Makhosoke 11 of the Ndebele, MEC for Education, Mrs. Reginah Mhaule, Chief Executive of the National Institute of Higher Education, Professor Connie Mokadi and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Professor Ihron Rensburg.
The process of introducing a new Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching through the reopening of former colleges of education has been started in Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo where in the other three provinces work is still mostly at a planning stage. In Mpumalanga, a collaboration between the DHET, the Mpumalanga Department of Education, the NIHE and the University of Johannesburg has enabled the establishment of the Siyabuswa Teacher Education campus, utilizing the former Kwa Ndebele College of Education site.
The new Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching has started with an enrolment of 100 students on the campus this year. Enrolments will increase over the next few years until the campus is maximally utilized..
Work is still at the planning stages in the other three provinces, and over the course of this year the sites will be finalized, and the universities to which they will be linked confirmed.
NB: Please note there will be a media briefing at 12h30 at the same venue by Minister Blade Nzimande immediately after the launch.
RSVP: Confirm attendance with Zanda Mhlana on 076 779 7828
Enquiries:
Vuyelwa Qinga
Cell: 076 883 4144
