Pre-primary, pre-school or kindergarten educators play a vital role in the early development of children. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves and the world and can determine their later success or failure in society and affect their personal lives.
Pre-school children learn mainly through play and group activities. Pre-primary educators use play to further language and vocabulary development. In addition they lead children in activities designed to develop their physical abilities, communicative skills and interpersonal relationships. Examples of play activities would be storytelling, rhyming games, and acting games. Examples of creative play would be mixing and using colours to paint as well as dance, and music. As they grow, the play may take on a more academic focus as children begin to do activities that lead to letter recognition, counting of numbers, and awareness of nature and science. They may also promote health and safety concepts.
Pre-primary educators are also acutely aware of the emotional development of small children and organize and supervise activities and games that promote self-confidence and social interaction with other children. They try to keep a balance of activities while also ensuring that children have adequate rest periods. At times, they need to attend to sick children and those in need of first-aid; comfort children who are hurt or distressed and assist children with their toileting and other personal matters. They need to watch for signs of illness or other problems and they evaluate and record the progress children make and discuss this with parents. They might make appropriate recommendations with regard to further development or detect signs of developmental disorder, ill health or emotional disturbance. They sometimes work with guidance officers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists, to assist children with special needs.
Satisfying Aspects
- working with children
- doing work that is valuable for the future of society
- the variety of the work
- the opportunity to be creative in your work
Demanding aspects
- spending long hours outside the classroom attending meetings and preparing lessons
- sometimes having to deal with unpleasant children and parents
- managing classroom routine chores, such as clearing away equipment
Requirements
A pre-primary school educator should:
- have a keen interest in children;
- be able to promote and maintain good relations and contact with young people
and parents;
- have humour and compassion to maintain perspective in order to create a relaxed atmosphere;
- be able to communicate with ease;
- have a balanced and sober view of life and be able to set a good example;
- have tolerance, tact, sympathy and patience;
- have a strong personality as well as emotional stability and maturity;
- possess good health and stamina.
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: Music, Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts
Training
Degree: at a university, students can first complete a bachelor degree of 3 or 4 years, depending on the course concerned, followed by a one year PGCE (Post Certificate in Education) for the foundation phases (grades R-3). Every institution will have its own subject requirements to qualify for acceptance. It is advisable to contact the institution at which you wish to study before making a final choice of subjects.
A second means of obtaining a teaching degree is via the Bachelor of Education or BEd degree which is offered by a number of universities and universities of technology. The Bachelor of Education is a 4-year degree. In each year of the curriculum, academic and professional studies are integrated with school-based practical teaching experience. The focus of this degree is on the Foundation phase and Early Childhood Development (ECD).
Qualifications in Education may be obtained at all universities.
Postgraduate qualifications, such as Advanced Certificates, are offered at most universities, e.g. UNISA, NMMU, UJ, US, UCT, RU, UKZN, NWU, UP, UFH, UV, UZ, WSU, Wits.
Diploma : diploma courses in teaching provide a practical and focused teaching qualification targeted at specific levels of education i.e. foundation phase (grades R-3). The teaching diploma is offered by a number of universities and universities of technology such as CPUT, DUT, TUT. A diploma can be upgraded to a degree at a later stage.
Certificate : certificate programmes are available for educators and community workers currently engaged in education and child care programmes. The minimum entrance requirement is Grade 12, with at least 3 years experience in early childhood development. Programmes are offered by the Centre for Early Childhood Development, contact: (021) 683 2420
Employer
- Government
- Provincial schools
- Private schools
- Self-employment, with own pre-primary school
Contact
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa
P O Box 572
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 324-1365 Fax: (012) 324-1366
www.naptosa.org.za