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The LEAP Teacher Training Programme aims to create a teacher development model that addresses the severe shortage of qualified teachers in South Africa. The Teacher Training Programme is a 5 year course during which students receive practical classroom training, dedicated mentoring and specialised tuition while studying their Bachelor of Education degree through UNISA. The location of the training programme within the LEAP Science and Maths Schools provides the following unique combination of attributes to the program: - Infrastructure and administrative support to candidates - A reference point for candidates to structure their learning activities around - A framework within which distance learning candidates have on-going access to academic, social and emotional peer group support - Teacher-level integration into the daily life of the school, providing unparalleled learning and growth opportunities - On-site, accessible and relevant teacher mentoring program that nurtures, trains and coaches candidates through their internship period - On-going life skills awareness and education program - Allowances paid by the school provide a measure of financial security during the internship period for the candidates LEAP aims to recruit 10% of each year’s matriculating learners for the teaching training programme, as well as facilitate the entry of other non-LEAP matriculants into the programme.   
LEAP Teacher Training Programme Students The LEAP Teacher Training Programme students are currently in the following stages of the programme: - 2 students are currently studying their ACCESS course through UNISA and hope to join the LEAP Teacher Training Programme in 2010 once they have successfully completed their studies. - 3 students registered to study their Bachelor of Education through UNISA in January 2009 and have started the programme. - 3 students are planning to start their UNISA studies in June 2009 pending the results of their supplementary exams. - 6 students already enrolled in the programme are continuing their studies this year. - 3 students have left the programme but are continuing their studies to become teachers at different institutions. Looking Ahead We believe that the LEAP Teacher Training Programme is uniquely positioned to attract and nurture bright, driven and passionate school leavers during their journey of becoming qualified teachers. The teachers graduating from the programme will be well qualified in their subject knowledge and, through their classroom experience, confident to handle the classroom utilising LEAP’s family-structure method of communication, values and code of conduct. “The LEAP Teacher Training Programme has provided me with an opportunity to enter into the career of teaching whilst learning more about myself. I am a human being and I find it normal to look at my strengths only, but in this programme I am constantly reminded to look at my weaknesses and acknowledge them. This is my career that I am choosing, but most of all it is an opportunity to take my strengths and passion for the human race and make a meaningful contribution to their lives.” Siyabonga, 2005 LEAP 1 (Langa) graduate and first year teaching student |
