Pre-service teacher training in South Africa : are student teachers offered adequate training about the South African education system?

Abstract

Pre-service teacher training is a matter of concern. Due to the shortage of teachers, the Minister of Higher Education in South Africa has made an agreement with South African universities to produce between 13 000 and 15 000 teachers per year from 2010 to 2014. A large number of students who pursue teaching profession are financed by the state so that the determined target can be reached. The student teachers are taught methodologies of teaching for primary and secondary schools in different universities in South Africa. It is of the utmost importance that student teachers be taught about the education system, handling of diversity of learners before they start their teaching careers. This conceptual paper would like to address the importance of offering adequate training on students’ pre-service teacher training programmes