The University of South Africa (Unisa) is aware of the matter being raised by students in the online petition regarding the Diploma in Grade R Teaching.
The Diploma in Grade R Teaching was introduced for the first time for application in 2021 and registration in 2022. No amendments have been made to the admission requirements.
The purpose of the qualification is to improve the status of the practitioners that are already employed in Grade R and allow them to access and gain credit toward the Bachelor of Education Foundation Phase Teaching, since this is the minimum requirement for Grade R teachers.
In terms of paragraph 14.4 of the DHET policy, all new entrants intending to become Foundation Phase teachers (qualified to teach from Grades R to 3) should register for the Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching, rather than for the Diploma in Grade R Teaching, if they meet the requirements for entry into the Bachelor of Education programme.
DHET policy further stipulates that the qualification for Grade R teaching is treated separately from teaching qualifications for Initial Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development, as it has a specialised purpose and its focus is on one specific grade in the Foundation Phase (FP). The progression path from Grade R teaching is into FP teaching, for which the minimum qualification is a B Ed in FP Teaching. Since the qualification has a specific purpose it will only be offered for 5 years at Unisa, with the last intake of students in 2025.
Students who apply for the Diploma Grade R Teaching are required to submit proof of employment since the purpose of the Diploma is to provide for the needs of Grade R practitioners currently in the field. This enables those who complete the Diploma in Grade R Teaching to have a good chance of employment in the public school sector.
Published admission requirements of the Diploma Grade R Teaching, that have not been changed, clearly indicate the following:
Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with at least a 40% in the language of teaching and learning,
or
a Level 4 National Certificate (Vocational) with a diploma entry endorsement or equivalent and at least 40% in the language of teaching and learning. A Level 4 or Level 5 Certificate,
or
a Diploma in Early Development may also be presented for admission and assessment pertaining to advanced credit standing with appropriate subject combinations and levels of achievement, as prescribed by institutions accredited to offer learning programmes that lead to the attainment and awarding of the qualification.
In addition, proof of employment in Grade R is required as per the Department of Basic Education requirement of the qualification.
The qualification will only be offered until 2027 and the last year for intake will be 2025.
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To assist those students who were admitted into the Grade R Diploma without submitting a proof of employment in Grade R, the following opportunities were made available:
For the 2023 academic year (2022 application for 2023), the requirement for Proof of Employment in Grade R has been amended to clarify any misconceptions (PLEASE NOTE: it is still compulsory). |
The university has activated its internal processes to address this matter. The outcome of the internal process will be communicated to affected students.
College of Education
Publish date: 2022-04-06 00:00:00.0