TICZA

Two of the four key elements of More Than A Teacher SA (MTAT) are "We Study" and "We Serve." "We Study" focuses on supporting pre-service teachers who enroll in higher education institutions (such as UNISA, Stadio, UJ, or NWU) to pursue distance learning for an accredited teaching qualification. MTAT provides ongoing academic support and facilitates peer learning among these students. "We Serve" plays a crucial role in promoting social awareness and understanding community development challenges, as well as the social issues faced in both African and global contexts. Pre-service teachers are encouraged to volunteer at partner community organizations and/or schools as part of this initiative. This week, we're profiling More than a teacher, which is also one of the Implementing Partners for the TICZA Project. Learn more: https://www.mtat.co.za/

We're profiling Instill Education, which provides degree programs and a free online professional development platform called Upskill, designed to support educators at every stage of their journey. Their mission is to enhance student outcomes by equipping teachers with a lifelong network of support, continuous professional development, and practical skills to navigate the evolving challenges of the classroom. Their ultimate goal is to transform every classroom in Africa (South Africa, Khenya, Uganda and Nigeria) by applying proven learning methodologies to their bite-sized modules through a blended learning model, enabling teachers to implement new insights daily. Instill Education is also a Higher Education Institution (HEI) partner for the TICZA Project. Learn more: https://instill.education/

The University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Education envisions an education system that is accessible, high-quality, and relevant to both national and global contexts. Its goal is to contribute to lifelong learning in a South Africa committed to social justice and sustainable economic development. As part of an African university, the School is socially inclusive, contextually relevant, and focused on generating knowledge that benefits the society it serves. The School of Education has a strong national reputation for teacher education programmes, adult education, workplace learning, and higher education. The UKZN School of Education is also one of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) partners for the TICZA Project. Learn more: https://soe.ukzn.ac.za/

We’re shining the spotlight on TEACH South Africa (Teach SA), a non-profit organisation dedicated to addressing quality education challenges by recruiting and developing STEM graduates into the teaching profession. Established in 2009, Teach SA was created in response to the urgent need for qualified STEM teachers. Its mission is to bridge the educational gap by placing Science, Technology, English, and Mathematics graduates as TEACH Ambassadors in under-resourced schools. Over the past 15 years, more than 760 Ambassadors have been placed in over 416 schools across all nine provinces of South Africa. Teach SA is also one of the Implementing Partners for the TICZA Project. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dSWRigMP

On 07 February 2025, the Limpopo Department of Education in partnership with Thuto Trust launched the Rural Education Teacher Internship project and hosted the Excellence Awards ceremony for the student teachers who participate in the Thuto Trust Extended Student Teacher Internship (ESTI) programme.

This week we’re profiling the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria renowned for fostering a multi-racial and culturally diverse environment that promotes inclusive learning. Its programmes are bolstered by strong partnerships with the Department of Basic Education and collaboration with other departments and faculties within the university. Dedicated to excellence, the Faculty produces highly skilled teachers who are technologically adept and capable of navigating the rapidly evolving educational landscape. Through its FLY@UP campaign ("The Finish Line is Yours"), students are encouraged to complete their degrees within the prescribed time frame, taking responsibility for their academic journey. The Faculty also places a strong emphasis on continued academic advancement, urging graduates to pursue honours, master's, and doctoral studies. The University of Pretoria is a Higher Education Institution (HEI) partner in the TICZA project. Learn more: https://www.up.ac.za

Part 2 of the Practice and Research Digest also looked at Partnerships to implement extended student teacher internships - School-university partnerships: learnings from piloting the University of Johannesburg’s School-Based Student Teacher Programme. Authored by Ramsaroop Sarita and Nadine Petersen, University of Johannesburg and Tshegofatso Moabelo, JET Education Services - Improving teacher readiness for the common South African classroom through the TICZA collective impact model: insights from Teach for All and Teach the Nation. Authored by David Oliphant, Teach the Nation - An extended student teacher internship-university partnership: a programme manager’s perspective. Authored by Rene Levinge-Lang, Intern Programme Director, St Peters Intern Programme Download the TICZA Practice and Research Digest here: https://lnkd.in/dZr6JwzM

Part 2 of the Practice and Research Digest looks at Partnerships to implement extended student teacher internships - Making inroads: funder collaborations in multistakeholder partnerships authored by Gail Campbell, Zenex Foundation and Rebecca Muir, Maitri Trust - The evolution of collaboration: TICZA as a public-private partnership, collective impact collaboration or even an outcomes-based contract? Authored by James Keevy and Zaahedah Vally, JET Education Services and Herman Meyer, independent consultant - Strengthening teacher education: the power of collaboration in extended student teaching internships. Authored by Hassiena Marriott, Global Teachers Institute - Partnerships that work: reflections from Thuto Trust. Authored by Lerato Okeyo, Thuto Trust Download the TICZA Practice and Research Digest here: https://lnkd.in/dZr6JwzM

This week we're profiling Thuto Trust, a forward-thinking educational organisation dedicated to teacher development and preparation. It offers extended internships for B.Ed students pursuing their studies through distance learning, with the aim of improving the quality of education in low-income communities. Committed to addressing South Africa’s increasing demand for qualified educators, Thuto Trust is actively expanding its teacher internship program. Since 2021, it has supported approximately 120 student teachers through its Extended Student Teacher Internship initiative in partnership with the Department of Basic Education Rural Education, focusing on Limpopo and Gauteng provinces. Thuto Trust is one of the Implementing Partners for the TICZA project. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dFcVrhHk

Practice & Research Digest: Part 1: Policy impact of extended student teacher internships - Extended student teacher internships: the need for policy alignment. Authored by: Lala Maje and Ben Lubisi, Department of Basic Education and veronica mckay, College of Education, University of South Africa. - Extended student teacher internships: a policy/practice perspective. Authored by: Vanencia Chiloane, South African Council for Educators and Michelle Mathey, Department of Higher Education and Training - Scaling up teacher internship models and the epistemology of knowledge. Authored by: Renny Somnath, South African Democratic Teachers Union, Hema Hariram, National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa and Peter Boase, Professional Educators’ Union Download the TICZA Practice and Research Digest here: https://lnkd.in/dZr6JwzM