As teachers return to schools and begin to welcome students back amidst South Africa’s second wave, Snapplify’s online teacher hub Teacha! has released a new edition of Teacha! Magazine. The publication, which has been published quarterly since 2018, is well-known in the education community for providing empowering advice and inspirational ideas for teachers.‘Supporting teachers is the driving force behind everything we do at Teacha!. Towards the end of 2020, we decided to hold our first-ever survey because we knew how beneficial this data would be to teachers and the wider education community,’ said Teacha! Founder, Jean Vermeulen.The Teacha! 2020 Education Report breaks down the current status of South African education and gives insight to what it is like teaching in the country.Key findings from the report include:
- The majority of schools have a strong focus on school tradition
- A vast majority of teachers hope to receive more training on teaching with technology in 2021, followed by social emotional wellbeing training and subject-specific courses
- On average, teachers spend an additional 5 weekday hours and 6 weekend hours on school-related work
- Teachers spend over R500 of their own money each month on teaching resources and materials
- The majority of survey respondents loved teaching: these teachers tend to have smaller classes, while those who don’t love their jobs have 45+ learners in the classrooms
In addition to this exclusive 2020 Education report, this new Term 1 edition comes with even more interesting, inspiring and empowering information for teachers:
- A moving extract from Learning Under Learning (compiled by Jonathan Jansen and Emily O’Ryan)
- Parent perspectives on the pandemic
- Distance learning for lower quintile schools
- Everything South African teachers need to know about the SACE Virtual Library
- A competition to win graded readers from CHASE Education, to the value of R70 000
In 2020, Teacha! Magazine brought teachers together during school closures. From tips on remote learning to food-for-thought on creating safe schools (physically and emotionally) and bringing purpose back to the classroom, the free magazine provided encouragement, acknowledgement, and inspiration for educators.The support that the magazine offers teachers has truly been highlighted during the pandemic. As Vermeulen says to readers, ‘I encourage you to look back at 2020 and think about everything you achieved. If it was one change you made (even if it has been your attitude towards change), celebrate it, and aim for ways that you can innovate in 2021.’
About Teacha! Magazine
Acquired by global edtech company Snapplify in 2020, Teacha! Magazine serves as a platform for professionals in the schools industry to share best practices and practical advice with each other. The online magazine for teachers is published at the beginning of every term and sent to more than 25 000 subscribers, who include educators and school administrators. Over 7000 Snapplify schools also have free access to the magazine (including back issues). The publication serves as a valuable reference for teachers who might need inspirational ideas or trusted advice on education-related topics.
