In 2015, SANTS Private Higher Education Institution (SANTS), formerly the South African National Tutor Service, commissioned JET Education Services (JET) to conduct an evaluation of the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) (teaching practice) component of the SANTS Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching and Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching (BEd programmes) for initial teacher education (ITE). The evaluation study was intended to ascertain the extent to which the SANTS student teachers were putting into practice the knowledge, skills and techniques taught to them during their work integrated learning experiences and to provide SANTS with an independent perspective on their student teachers’ classroom performance.
The evaluation findings offer overall a very positive view of the sample of SANTS student teachers. With very few exceptions, a clear majority of the student teachers were found to perform at the expected levels for newly qualified teachers. SANTS student teachers were found to be viewed positively – in terms of their attitude and teaching skills – and SANTS as an institution is valued highly for the way it goes about its work. The student teachers themselves value the academic preparation and pedagogical support offered by SANTS. There were few exceptions to these positive views.
The SANTS model of delivery thus seems to be impressive and worth replicating.
