Is teaching your dream career? And you do not meet admission requirements? due to your APS, English, Maths level or your matric endorsement? well, you don't have to worry anymore. The University of South Africa known as UNISA offers prospective students higher certificate in education to allow them to reach their dreams.
It is no surprise that when UNISA removed higher certificate in education from their website everyone was devastated because they felt like their second chance of becoming teachers was taken away from them. Only a few days before the applications open we learned that the university removed the course to make drastic changes. The requirements changes made many prospective students unhappy because it meant that they may no longer qualify to pursue their dream.
What is this higher certificate in education? many may ask. Well, higher certificate in education is a bridging course that allows prospective students to do bachelor of education. This certificate is done for a period of one year and prepares students for the main degree course. Learners who successfully complete the course will apply for bachelor of education and embark on the journey of studying teaching. The number of students accepted to the programme is limited so prospective students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to stand a better chance of being accepted.
Requirements.
In the past higher certificate in education requirements were low accommodating everyone but the changes that were recently introduced left many in the dark. In previous years the APS required was 15 with level 2 in English. Now 2021 the required APS is 18 with level 3 in English. Protective students with bachelor, diploma or higher certificate endorsement can apply for higher certificate in education considering that they meet the other minimum requirements stated.
Who can apply for the higher certificate in education?
1. Learners who obtained Bachelor's degree endorsement in matric but obtained level 3 in English.
2. Learners who obtained Bachelor's degree endorsement in matric but have an APS below 23 or 18 and have level 3 in English
3. Learners who obtained diploma endorsement in matric and have an APS of 18 and level 3 in English
4. Learners who obtained higher certificate endorsement in matric and have an APS of 18 and level 3 in English
How to check my endorsement?
As soon as you receive your matric statement you need to check at the bottom of your certificate right after your results your endorsement. There are 3 to 4 sentences that explain the type of endorsement you obtained.
1. "This candidate qualifies for a national senior certificate and has met the minimum requirements for bachelor's degree, diploma or higher certificate study as gazetted for admission fo higher education"
It means you have passed with a bachelor and you can apply for higher certificate, diploma or bachelor courses subject to meeting other requirements.
2. "This candidate qualifies for a national senior certificate and has met the minimum requirements for diploma or higher certificate study as gazetted for admission fo higher education"
It means you have passed with a diploma and you can apply for diploma and higher certificate courses subject to meeting other requirements
3. "This candidate qualifies for a national senior certificate and has met the minimum requirements for higher certificate study as gazetted for admission fo higher education"
It means you have passed with a higher certificate and you can apply for higher certificate courses subject to meeting other requirements
Where else can I study higher certificate in education?
Higher certificate in education is only offered at the University of South Africa giving individuals who love teaching an opportunity to make their dreams come true.
Higher certificate in education is classified into 2 categories, that is;
1. Higher certificate in foundation and intermediate phase
2. Higher certificate in senior and FET phase
Follow on qualifications
1. Higher certificate in foundation and intermediate phase
- BEd in foundation phase
- BEd in intermediate phase
2. Higher certificate in senior and FET phase
- BEd senior phase and FET
Individuals who choose to apply for higher certificate in foundation phase and intermediate phase will get a chance to apply for bachelor of education in foundation phase/ intermediate phase and successfully become primary school teachers depending on their respective phases. Those who applied for higher certificate in senior and FET phase will get a chance to apply for bachelor of education in senior and FET phase and walk on a journey to be secondary school teachers
One thing to remember is that you do not need to finish your higher certificate course to start applying for BEd. You will need to use your first semester higher certificate results to apply for BEd and just because you are doing higher certificate it doesn't mean you will be accepted to BEd (Bachelor of Education). There are certain subjects that you need to pass when doing higher certificate in foundation phase and intermediate phase that is MTE 1501. Failure to do so will hinder being admitted to the degree/ diploma courses.