The completion of the PGCE within one year is only considered feasible if a student has already fulfilled the majority of the required prerequisite undergraduate (teaching subject) modules in their previous qualification. Exceptions may be considered solely in cases where there is a single
prerequisite undergraduate module (related to the subject specialisation) that is stipulated on the student’s acceptance letter for completion. Under such circumstances, the student may then be granted permission to concurrently fulfill this module alongside the obligatory PGCE modules. This is done to satisfy the admission criteria for a particular teaching subject.

In contrast, students who have multiple prerequisite undergraduate (teaching subject) modules to complete, in addition to the PGCE modules, are required to extend the duration of their PGCE qualification to two or more years. This enables them to adeptly handle the demands of both
theoretical and practical components, leading to a more comfortable adherence to deadlines and staying within the appropriate credit limits of the qualification.

It is essential for students to be aware that each module encompasses various assessments. Consequently, registering for more than five modules per semester may lead to an overwhelming amount of pressure, taking into account notional hours, credit limitations, and the necessity to meet deadlines based on all the required assessments per semester. Hence,
considering all the above-mentioned information and various circumstances, the PGCE is structured as a one-year qualification for full-time students, while part-time students would follow a two-year timeline.

Students who exceed the maximum number of credits allowed per semester and year require explicit authorisation from the Deputy Dean of the School of Education as well as the Executive Dean. In such cases, you are required to please reach out to our School of Education Faculty Officer at sharon-leee@cornerstone.ac.za. They will furnish you with a form to complete, comprehensively evaluating your rationale and situation. The decision regarding your ability to complete within a year will be determined through this process.

It is important to emphasize that a student's subject specialisation is contingent upon meeting specific admission requirements outlined and governed by the Department of Higher Education &  Training (DHET). This determination is explicitly communicated in the Acceptance Letter, indicating whether the stipulated requirements have been fulfilled. Cornerstone Institute offers specific prerequisite undergraduate modules designed to fulfill the admission requirements for certain teaching subjects, specifically in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa (from 2025), Mathematics, and Life Skills. However, it should be noted that for Intermediate Phase students, prerequisite undergraduate modules for admission into Science & Technology and Social Science are not provided.

If students desire to pursue Science & Technology or Social Science as their teaching subject specialisation instead of Mathematics or Life Skills, they have the option to fulfill the required prerequisite modules externally for non-degree purposes to meet the admission requirements.

Following a thorough assessment of your academic transcripts by our admission officers upon the successful submission of your application, your eligibility for specific subject specialisations, whether meeting or not meeting admission requirements, will be conclusively determined and explicitly outlined in your Acceptance Letter. 

We do not have a consolidated list of all prescribed readings and textbooks for the various PGCE modules in one document. However, it's essential to note that each module outline will specify the required readings, including important and relevant chapters from certain books recommended by the lecturer.

These crucial readings, necessary for assignments, tests, or quizzes, will be accessible under the resources tab on Funda. If you have questions about whether to purchase specific textbooks or if the provided prescribed readings under the resource tab are sufficient, you are encouraged to contact your lecturer. Lecturers may recommend additional readings to enhance your understanding of assignments and broaden your knowledge as a student.

For specific inquiries, you can communicate with your lecturers via email; their Cornerstone email addresses are available on the module outline.

Rest assured that none of the PGCE modules require formal examinations; their assessment is primarily based on assignments, occasionally supplemented by timed tests. However, it's important to note that there might be online exams for students who are required to complete specific prerequisite undergraduate Sociology or Psychology modules to fulfill the admission requirements for the subject specialisation of Life Skills.

Unfortunately, this will not be permitted and is therefore strongly advised against. Undertaking all three teaching practicals concurrently within a single semester poses considerable challenges due to the distinct durations and sequential nature of these practical requirements, each
occurring at different primary schools. We believe that permitting this will prevent proper reflection needed after each TP experience and integration of academic and practical components of the programme.

To elaborate, Practical A is typically recommended to be completed fairly early in your studies, Practical B midway, and Practical C in the last semester of your studies. Considering these recommendations and guidelines, attempting to complete all three practicals consecutively within the same semester is definitely not feasible within the suggested timeline.

During critical circumstances, emergencies, or unforeseen challenges, when completing all three practicals in one semester becomes the sole viable option, we may accommodate such requests on a case-by-case basis. In such situations, it is essential to communicate and seek guidance
from our Teaching Practice Coordinator at: anelc@cornerstone.ac.za. She possesses the expertise to offer assistance, clarification, and will evaluate your circumstances to determine whether special permission can be granted, providing confirmation accordingly.

Your online tutorial timetable is available on the School of Education Plenary site under the "Resources" section tab on Funda.

All PGCE modules are bound to specific semesters. If a module is designated for the 1st semester, it can only be completed during that period, and similarly for 2nd semester modules. Completing a 1st semester module in the 2nd semester or vice versa is not allowed, as each module is exclusively offered in the specified semester.

It's important to note that the only exceptions to this rule are the prerequisite modules, including English for Education A & B, Afrikaans for Education A & B, isiXhosa for Education A & B, Statistics for Education A & B, and the three teaching practicals. These Teaching Practicals can also be completed in any semester, 1st or 2nd, as long as they are done sequentially in the correct order (A, B, and lastly C in the last semester of your studies).

Prerequisite modules with both A & B components, such as English for Education A & B, Afrikaans for Education A & B, Statistics for Education A & B, isiXhosa for Education A & B, span two semesters. The A & B components cannot be completed simultaneously in a single semester. For example, you can complete English for Education A in the 1st semester and then finish the B component in the following semester or in the 1st or 2nd semester of the next academic year.

We encourage all students to prioritise attending all online tutorials as it provides an opportunity for real-time interaction with lecturers to discuss the module and its content. However, we understand that in some cases, missing tutorials may be unavoidable, especially for students abroad in different
time zones. In such instances, rest assured that all tutorials are prerecorded and made accessible for students to view later under the "Khuluma" tab within the recordings section. Your lecturer will use multiple other platforms to keep in touch with you in between tutorials. We also urge you to make every effort to attend the live plenary sessions on Khuluma for all our PGCE students and staff on Thursdays from 5pm to 5.30pm on the School of Education site on Funda.

To access the tutorial, please follow these steps:

• Click on "Khuluma."
• Look for the tutorial link, usually highlighted in blue. Wait for the Status column to indicate "in progress."
• Click on "TUTORIAL" (Ensure the moderator/presenter has gained access first.)
• Click on "Join Meeting."
• A drop-down screen will appear with the question "How do you want to join the audio?" Choose "Listen only."
• Engage with the lecturer and fellow students through the Chat column.
• If you wish to have a private conversation with the lecturer, click on "Options."
• When logging out, use the black arrow located on the top right side of the screen.
• Note that the tutorial will be recorded, and the recording will be accessible approximately an hour after the tutorial on Khuluma.

To access the recording, follow these steps:

• Click on "Khuluma."
• Navigate to the "Recording" section.
• In the Playback column on the far right side, click on "Presentation."
• Scroll down to find the "Play" button.

Explore messages in the Funda chat tabs for potential WhatsApp support groups initiated by fellow students (most likely the appointed class representative). Request to join these groups, or contact your lecturer to be directed to the class representative for your specific module. The class representative will facilitate your inclusion in the group chat focused on support, guidance, and important matters. Each module designates a class representative, usually sharing the WhatsApp group link during the 1st or 2nd tutorial. Please be vigilant about scammers trying to use our sites for criminal ends.

In the event of dissatisfaction with the resolution or handling of an issue, such as a grade, subject matter, or perceived display of biased behaviour by the lecturer, the initial course of action is to engage in direct consultation with the lecturer via email. If concerns persist, the matter can be escalated by reaching out to the School of Education Faculty Officer via email at sharon-leee@cornerstone.ac.za for further attention and resolution.

For inquiries regarding any outstanding modules and to assess your eligibility for graduation, please reach out to the Registrar’s Department at helpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za. Additionally, to systematically monitor your progress, it is advisable to mark completed modules on your curriculum grid as you finish them. This approach assists in clearly identifying the modules that have been successfully completed and those that still require completion.