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NQF 7 · 120 Credits · Postgraduate Certificate

PGCE in Intermediate Phase Teaching

A professional teaching qualification for graduates who hold a relevant three-year degree or recognised national diploma, and wish to qualify as professional educators in the Intermediate Phase — offered in both Distance and Contact modes.

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  • Accredited by the CHE
  • Registered with DHET
  • Ref: H/PRO96/E013CAN (Distance)
Aim of the Programme

Train to teach. Shape young minds.

This programme is designed to address the growing demand for professional educators in South Africa. The PGCE in Intermediate Phase Teaching is intended for students who have completed a relevant three-year degree or a recognised national diploma and wish to qualify as professional educators in the Intermediate Phase.

Offered in both Distance and Contact modes, with intakes in January and July for flexibility around personal and academic commitments.

  • Demonstrate competence in reading, writing and speaking the language/s of instruction
  • Demonstrate competence in interpreting and using numerical and elementary statistical knowledge
  • Demonstrate competence regarding the knowledge base underpinning the learning areas they will be teaching
  • Plan, design, and reflect on learning programmes appropriate for Intermediate Phase learners
  • Select, use and adjust teaching and learning strategies to meet learners' needs
  • Manage and administer learning environments sensitively, democratically and effectively
  • Monitor and assess learner progress and achievement in their specialisation
  • Function responsibly within the education system, institution and community
  • Demonstrate respect for and commitment to the educator profession

Watch the programme overview

Time Commitment & Mode

How you can study.

Duration

Recommended 2 years part-time. Minimum 1 year full-time (2 years if NDP modules are required). Maximum 4 years part-time.

Delivery Mode

Offered in both Distance (online) and Contact (on-campus) modes.

Intakes

Two intakes per year — January and July — for flexibility around personal and academic commitments.

Module Master Module Descriptors Curriculum Grids

Important Note on Credit Loads

Full-time students may take a maximum of 130–140 credits per study year, and part-time students a maximum of 60–80 credits per study year. This maximum must first be made up of any Prerequisite Undergraduate modules that you must complete and can then be supplemented by taking PGCE modules at the same time.

For example, if a full-time student must complete Prerequisite Undergraduate modules English for Education A and B (30 credits), they can still enrol for 100 PGCE credits in the same year; the rest they will have to complete in the following year.

Admission Requirements

Who this is for.

  1. 01 A bachelor's degree (or approved diploma of minimum 360 credits at NQF Level 6) from a public or private institution accredited by a recognised local or foreign accrediting body.
  2. 02 The prior degree/diploma must provide a broad knowledge base adequate for teaching in the Intermediate Phase — i.e., English, Afrikaans, and two IP teaching subjects at NQF Level 6 (second-year university level).
  3. 03 Conversational competency in an official African language (Conversational isiXhosa is offered as a 5-credit module for those without this competency).
  4. 04 Holders of multidisciplinary degrees may be admitted if disciplines underpin IP learning requirements and subjects are taken to at least NQF Level 6 (min. 30 credit weighting over two semesters).
  5. 05 Holders of focused degrees lacking a broad knowledge base or adequate specialisation may need to enrol simultaneously in teaching subjects (minimum NQF 6).
Subject-Specific Entry Requirements

Entry into didactics.

For admission into the language and subject didactics modules, prospective IP students are required to have studied the language at NQF Level 5 and 6 (minimum 30 credits over two semesters) in their undergraduate degree.

  1. EN English Didactics: English Language Studies + TEAC6150 Texts & Contexts OR CAYL6150 Children's & Youth Literature.
  2. AF Afrikaans Didactics: Afrikaans A + Afrikaans B.
  3. XH isiXhosa Didactics: IsiXhosa A + IsiXhosa B.
  4. ZU isiZulu Didactics: IsiZulu A + IsiZulu B.
  5. MA Mathematics Didactics: Statistics for Education + Maths for Education.
  6. LS Life Skills Didactics: 30 credits across NQF 5 & 6 in Psychology (mandatory) + Sociology or Philosophy.

Note: Cornerstone does not offer undergraduate subjects in the fields of Social Science Didactics and Science and Technology Didactics.

Accreditation

Fully accredited.

Cornerstone Institute (RF) NPC is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Registration Certificate No. 2001/HE08/006).

PGCE in Intermediate Phase Teaching: Distance mode. Registered by the DHET. Accredited by the CHE as a 120-credit learning programme for higher education at NQF Level 7.

  • SAQA ID99724
  • CHE Ref (Distance)H/PRO96/E013CAN
  • CHE Ref (Contact)H/PRO96/E007CAN
  • NQF Level7
  • Reg. Cert.2001/HE08/006
Resources

Everything you need, in one place.

All ProgrammesBrowse the full catalogue YearbookAcademic yearbook Fee StructureTuition & programme fees LeafletsProgramme leaflets & flyers Module MasterComplete module overview Module DescriptorsDetailed module descriptions Curriculum GridsYear-by-year layout Helpdeskhelpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za

Ready to teach the next generation?

Applications are open for the January and July intakes.

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