NQTP UCT

Established in 2016, the NQT Project provides support to Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students starting out their teaching careers. The rationale behind the project is that Teachers are a precious resource who need to be nurtured and supported so that they can play a meaningful role in transforming the education system. Teacher retention in our schools is an increasingly critical issue as high levels of staff turnover inhibit teaching and learning.

To this end, the NQT Project comprises a year of continued academic and professional teacher development with monthly workshops and meetings, one-on-one mentoring, classroom visits and legal and administrative help. There is also a four-day Winter School in July with free workshops and talks on a range of relevant issues, skills and topics for all teachers. The project is fulfilling its mandate, as is evident from the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the teachers.

The project, jointly funded by Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) Foundation and The Saville Foundation, aims to address the significant attrition rates amongst first year teachers, build teaching capacity and improve their professional resilience, with the goal of it ultimately being accepted by the DoE. The team provide direct practical, academic and emotional support to newly qualified teachers (NQTs) in the Western Cape through:

  • the provision of an accredited short course which focuses on strengthening teaching capacity and developing coping strategies
  • the development of a teaching resource base and a network of resource-sharing for newly qualified teachers
  • school visits, classroom observations and mentoring
  • active development of relationships with school principals
  • the provision of a Winter School for teachers
Visit Website