The department is one of the six departments in the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The name of the department is Adult, Foundation Phase and Educational Foundations Education. This name came about during the conceptualisation of the divisional model when two departments were merged. Briefly, adult education section offers the Diploma in Adult and Community Education and Training (Dip ACET), the Foundation Phase section offers Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching (BEd FPT) and Educational Foundations section offers Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training (PGCE in SP & FET) and Educational Foundation Modules (Principles of Learning and Teaching, Psychology of Learning and Teaching, Education Studies, etc.).

1.1.2 Research niche areas

Research niche areas in the department include Mathematics, Science and Technology teaching and learning; nature, scope and significance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS); Professional Content Knowledge (PCK); Academic Content Knowledge and School Based Experience (SBE) in Initial Education Programmes; Development challenges of rural-urban community; Development of reflective and reflexive teachers; Diversity and inclusivity in education.

1.1.3 Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

Work Integrated Learning comes in one form namely, School Based Experience. The purpose of SBE is to expose students to school to gain work experience under mentorship by staff of the host organisation and supervision by lecturers.

1.1.4 Partnerships

The department initiates to be partnering with different stakeholders and communities. The department intends to collaborate with different institutions (UFH, RU, UWC & CPUT) in research, materials development, training and capacity building.

1.1.5 General graduate opportunities

After the closure of colleges of education in 2002, training of primary school teachers suffered in the sense that there was no institution in the Transkei side of the Eastern Cape to train such teachers. In 2018 Walter Sisulu University offered the Bachelor of Education, Foundation Phase Teaching for the first time. Consequently, the first cohort of graduates got employment even before receiving their certificates.

1.1.6 Exciting issues

As the department commenced this year, one of the highlights in the department will be to celebrate the achievers in research and attainment of higher degrees. The department envisage to recognise performance of students and award them certificates for academic excellence.

1.1.7 Delivery sites

Masibulele delivery sites in Komani Campus and Nelson Mandela delivery sites in Mthatha Campus.

1.2 Vision, Mission, Values

VISION

In line with the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) vision, the vision of the Department is to design Initial Primary Teacher Education (IPTE) programmes that are technologically driven, nationally and globally competitive focusing on developing professionalism and quality teaching and learning. The Department strives to be a leading department in the faculties of education in the Universities of the Eastern Cape and South Africa in general in the preparation and provision of primary school teachers of the highest quality.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Department is to equip and prepare future teachers through quality teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement through blended teaching and learning to enable them to address complex challenges locally, nationally, and globally.

VALUES

• Honesty and Integrity
• Quality and Excellence
• Respect
• Ubuntu
• Accountability
• Responsibility
• Caring