Working As A Teacher In Cape Town

Being a teacher is one of the most useful and challenging roles that many people will take on, and it is a job that is vital to the development and growth of every culture, so it is no surprise that good teachers are always in demand. Cape Town offers a very attractive prospect for many people looking for teaching jobs, as it is located in a beautiful part of South Africa and has a range of different educational establishments that can offer teaching jobs. These can range from private schools and academies through to public schools in different areas of the city, although salaries can vary significantly depending on the type of role that you take.

Finding A Suitable Position

There are a variety of websites that you can use to look for teaching roles in the country, and these can range from classroom work up to deputy and headteacher roles within the educational system in South Africa. The majority of these positions will become available in the summer holidays, which happen between mid December and mid January every year, so this is a great time to start looking for roles in the country. Bear in mind that you will usually need to travel to the country in order to undertake interviews for your role, so it is a great chance to combine a vacation in the area with your interview if you are looking to make the most of your trip.

Qualifications Needed To Work As A Teacher In South Africa

One of the first things to point out about getting the chance to teach in South Africa is that all teachers have to be registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE), and that without this you will not be able to take up a teaching role in Cape Town or any other part of the country. This can be a drawn out process in some cases, so it is worth starting it as early as possible before your intended arrival date in the country.

The first step is to get your teaching qualifications recognized by the South African authorities, and in order to do this your qualifications will need to be validated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). This only confirms the validity of your qualification, and this will then need to be submitted to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to confirm that your qualifications are sufficient to allow you to teach in South Africa. Once you have the evaluation report from the SAQA and the evaluation report from the DBE, you can then submit these along with the other documents to apply for membership of the SACE.

Volunteer Teacher Positions In Cape Town

If you are looking for an opportunity that can allow you to make a major difference to the lives of others, working as a volunteer teacher in Cape Town is a great way to make a big difference. While many parts of the city are wealthy and progressive, other parts of the city are very poor, and the assistance you provide delivering education can help these young people to truly fulfill their potential to become a part of modern South Africa. 

For those who may be interested in education but aren't fully qualified teachers, it can also be possible to provide classroom support for the teachers in these schools, or offer one-on-one tuition. This is a great way to see how your work is paying off, and seeing youngsters who may not have English as their first language come out of their shell and embrace education can be a tremendously fulfilling experience.

The Classroom Culture

The experience you get teaching can often vary quite significantly depending on the part of Cape Town in which you will be teaching, with varying degrees of interest in the topics that you will be teaching from the pupils. Many people prefer to teach in Primary Schools because the lively atmosphere can help to make the whole experience more fun, but in many cases, working with older students can often prove to be more satisfying, particularly as you see your hard work pay off to help students to really become passionate about learning. You also play an important role in the culture of your classroom, and pupils will react to your attitude whether you encourage interaction or prefer a formal classroom.    

The Work Life Balance For Teachers

Although teachers in Cape Town are expected to work hard in the classroom and in terms of preparing for their lessons, there are also plenty of ways in which the work life balance is restored. The coastal city is a beautiful place to live and explore, and if you are becoming a permanent resident, the presence of Table Mountain will continue to make the city a spectacular place to live and work. The barbecues and social events in the city are a great place to socialize with friends and colleagues, and the competitive cost of living can make it a very pleasant place to live even if your salary isn't as large as you might have earned elsewhere.