Special Needs Teacher | Career Planet

OFO No: 235201

What is a Special Needs Teacher?

Special Needs Teachers are in demand!

The ETDP sector has identified a shortage of more than 5800 Special Needs Teachers!

If you are considering a career in teaching and you have a passion for young people with special needs, this may be a career choice worth considering.

Special Needs Teachers teach academic and living skills to primary and further-education-and-training students with particular learning difficulties, using various techniques. They promote students’ social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

Special needs learners is a term referring to learners who have needs and differences (disabilities) which reduce their ability to learn under general education conditions. Special Needs Teachers make it possible for these learners to learn. They use the latest technology, different approaches to learning, special learning spaces etc to accomplish this.

What does a Special Needs Teacher do?

assesses learners’ ability and limitations
plans and organises programmes specific for learners limitations
teaches basic academic subjects
teaches self-help skills to physically handicapped learners like hearing-or-sight impaired
helps to train and rehabilitate learners
prepares reports and keeps records
discusses learner’s progress or problems with parents or guardians

Are you . . . ?

interested in teaching?
compassionate and patient?
nurturing?
a good communicator?
a good listener?
organised?
patient?
observant?

How do I become a Special Needs Teacher?

There are 2 ways of becoming a Special Needs Teacher:

ONE:

Bachelor of Education (BEd): Special Needs Education

TWO:

Complete a Bachelor’s degree followed by a Postgraduate Diploma: Management of Childhood Disabilities.

These can be done at most SA universities.

TRAINING:

CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education.

Once you’ve graduated, you will be required to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) as an Educator.