Mirroring the teacher: What does the minimum requirement for teacher education qualifications say about character education?

The earlier version of this paper was presented at the National teacher education conference held at the University of Pretoria, September 2012.

Abstract

This paper interrogates the position of the new policy document on minimum requirements for teacher education qualifications regarding character education for trainee teachers. The paper seeks to understand whether any legal and pedagogical framework exist in the document to support the teaching and learning of character education by students in training institutions. Character education encompasses the multiple layers of influences that enable the individuals to become morally responsible and self-disciplined citizens. The paper presents evidences from international literature to highlight the imperativeness of character education for initial teacher education as germane for the production of the right calibre of quality teachers for the South African schools. The paper suggests the need for a proper mandate and pedagogical framework on character education for teacher training institutions. Some curricula issues involved in character education are presented. Noting that the public holds schools and teachers accountable for societal demeanour, the paper concludes that policy-informed well structured character education would culminate in the raising of the right calibre of teachers that may be responsive to societal needs.