implemented in a routinely classroom. This section discusses the essence of the seven roles of
a teacher and how these roles come into play.
The teacher as a Learning mediator in the classroom. As a learning mediator the teacher
facilitates each single learner keeping in mind their weaknesses and strengths. The teacher will
mediate learning by fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment that caters to everyone
regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, race, gender or disabilities. As described in
the Norms and Standards for Educators 1 1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
STATEMENT. (n.d.). Available at:
https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/DoE%20Branches/GET/Teacher%20Education%20a
nd%20Development/Norms%20and%20Standards%20%20Policy%20Statement.pdf?ver=20
08-03-05-111656-000.
“The educator will mediate learning in a manner which is sensitive to the diverse needs of
learners, including those with barriers to learning; construct learning environments that are
appropriately contextualised and inspirational.”
Adopting a range of teaching pedagogies suitable for all learners, for instance using a
language that is official to all learners and adjusting the pace of teaching to accommodate
learners with language barriers like waiting for everyone to finish before proceeding to
something else. Where necessary use a second language to explain instruction. Encourage
learners to be accepting of each other. Criticize and rectify racist behaviour or discrimination.
The Controller: The teacher is in complete charge of the class, what students do, what they
say and how they say it. The teacher assumes this role when a new language is being
introduced, and accurate reproduction and drilling techniques are
needed. it-k-admin. (2024, August 22). 7 Roles of a Teacher in the 21st Century | Eton
Institute. Eton Institute. https:/ /etoninstitute.com/blog/the-7-roles-of-a-teacher-in-the-21st-
century/
The teacher plays the role of an administrator, manager, or controller by managing learning
takes place optimally. He /She oversees making decisions for the classroom like what subject
to do, what topic and for how long. The teacher also takes responsibility to manage discipline
and manage different behaviours in the classroom of various
learners. Although the teacher solely manages the classroom, it is her responsibility to refrain
from favouritism and to be as democratic as possible with her decisions and the way she
addresses the classroom. Inadvertently, the classroom poses many challenges, which I have
also Witnessed during my teaching practice, instances where it is hard to take control.
Learners become rowdy and overpower and may also be violent. This is why a teacher should
polish management skills by taking advice from more experienced teacher. or even attending
meetings and workshops to ensure she is a good manager.
The teacher as a curriculum intepreter,designer and implementer, according to the book
Becoming a Teacher Gravett, S., De Beer, J., & Du Plessis, E. (2015). Becoming a teacher.
Pearson. For effective teaching to take place, teachers need to understand the theoretical
, approaches that influence curriculum interpretation and be able to interpret existing learning
programmes. The teacher needs to develop and design lesson plans parallel to both the given
curriculum and the classroom learners. How will she adapt and adjust the curriculum to suit
each child? The classroom presents a rainbow of cultures, personal views, and attitudes. The
teacher as a designer of the curriculum gives a more vast definition of the word curriculum. It
is not just a syllabus learning that is pre-planned and guided by policies methodologies and
different perspectives. In the abstract B arrows, M.I. (2025). The pastoral role and primary
school teachers’ identity in the Western Cape: a multiple case study. [online] Uwc.ac.za.
Available at: https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/items/f28fb654- 1e91-4746-8935-f8aa99c03aa3
[Accessed 7 Oct. 2025]. All South Africans. Curriculum 2005 was implemented in 1998 with
the curriculum changes gazetted in the Department of Education’ s Revised National
Curriculum Statement for Grades R-9 (RNCS) (Schools). South African teachers had to be
retrained to implement these curriculum changes. The decolonisation of the curriculum put
teachers in an immensely powerful position, they had to execute a curriculum that was
diverse and catered to all races, religions, and learners with language barriers. The curriculum
still is such susceptible to change to ensure inclusive education for all. The curriculum is
biased to the availability of resources, like textbooks or labs. The teacher needs to sequence
the knowledge in such a way that it comes across to all learners as holistic and inclusive. The
curriculum is a fabric which the teacher designs and sews. An immense amount of skill set
and experience is required to cater the curriculum to the whole classroom
The teacher as a lifelong learner or researcher: The teacher is professionally growing
throughout her career. In one article, it mentions Most successful people have a growth
mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset. Teachers undoubtedly have a growth mindset.
cchiaro. (2023, December 14). Why You Need to Be a Lifelong Learner - Graduate Programs
for Educators. Graduate Programs for Educators.
https://www.graduateprogram.org/blog/why-you-need-to-be-a-lifelong-learner/
Accepting constructive criticism, learning from feedback, and embracing the opportunity, a
supervisor comes to see and criticise your lesson and growing from being a beginner teacher
to an experienced one all forms part of learning. Every era brings a new challenge that
teachers must master like the digital era, required teachers to be technologically driven.
Incorporate technology
in lessons to make content relevant. I remember using channels like YouTube to enhance my
lesson at school or simply to gauge engagement,
The teacher as an assessor- Assessment is crucial to a learner as it aids in recognising
learners' relative strengths and weaknesses, the teacher as an assessor executes this by giving
learners various assessments like baseline assessment which is done usually at the beginning
of the
lesson. This assessment serves as a memory gauger. Indirectly, the teacher also assesses her
pedagogies, and what teaching methods, if differently could help learners understand better.
The teacher should be aware that assessment is not mere allocation of grades but as Swaffield
describes a more intriguing concept of the word assessment, he believed that assessment
derived from the Latin word Assid ere, meant to sit beside. The teacher would be actively
a teacher and how these roles come into play.
The teacher as a Learning mediator in the classroom. As a learning mediator the teacher
facilitates each single learner keeping in mind their weaknesses and strengths. The teacher will
mediate learning by fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment that caters to everyone
regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, race, gender or disabilities. As described in
the Norms and Standards for Educators 1 1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
STATEMENT. (n.d.). Available at:
https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/DoE%20Branches/GET/Teacher%20Education%20a
nd%20Development/Norms%20and%20Standards%20%20Policy%20Statement.pdf?ver=20
08-03-05-111656-000.
“The educator will mediate learning in a manner which is sensitive to the diverse needs of
learners, including those with barriers to learning; construct learning environments that are
appropriately contextualised and inspirational.”
Adopting a range of teaching pedagogies suitable for all learners, for instance using a
language that is official to all learners and adjusting the pace of teaching to accommodate
learners with language barriers like waiting for everyone to finish before proceeding to
something else. Where necessary use a second language to explain instruction. Encourage
learners to be accepting of each other. Criticize and rectify racist behaviour or discrimination.
The Controller: The teacher is in complete charge of the class, what students do, what they
say and how they say it. The teacher assumes this role when a new language is being
introduced, and accurate reproduction and drilling techniques are
needed. it-k-admin. (2024, August 22). 7 Roles of a Teacher in the 21st Century | Eton
Institute. Eton Institute. https:/ /etoninstitute.com/blog/the-7-roles-of-a-teacher-in-the-21st-
century/
The teacher plays the role of an administrator, manager, or controller by managing learning
takes place optimally. He /She oversees making decisions for the classroom like what subject
to do, what topic and for how long. The teacher also takes responsibility to manage discipline
and manage different behaviours in the classroom of various
learners. Although the teacher solely manages the classroom, it is her responsibility to refrain
from favouritism and to be as democratic as possible with her decisions and the way she
addresses the classroom. Inadvertently, the classroom poses many challenges, which I have
also Witnessed during my teaching practice, instances where it is hard to take control.
Learners become rowdy and overpower and may also be violent. This is why a teacher should
polish management skills by taking advice from more experienced teacher. or even attending
meetings and workshops to ensure she is a good manager.
The teacher as a curriculum intepreter,designer and implementer, according to the book
Becoming a Teacher Gravett, S., De Beer, J., & Du Plessis, E. (2015). Becoming a teacher.
Pearson. For effective teaching to take place, teachers need to understand the theoretical
, approaches that influence curriculum interpretation and be able to interpret existing learning
programmes. The teacher needs to develop and design lesson plans parallel to both the given
curriculum and the classroom learners. How will she adapt and adjust the curriculum to suit
each child? The classroom presents a rainbow of cultures, personal views, and attitudes. The
teacher as a designer of the curriculum gives a more vast definition of the word curriculum. It
is not just a syllabus learning that is pre-planned and guided by policies methodologies and
different perspectives. In the abstract B arrows, M.I. (2025). The pastoral role and primary
school teachers’ identity in the Western Cape: a multiple case study. [online] Uwc.ac.za.
Available at: https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/items/f28fb654- 1e91-4746-8935-f8aa99c03aa3
[Accessed 7 Oct. 2025]. All South Africans. Curriculum 2005 was implemented in 1998 with
the curriculum changes gazetted in the Department of Education’ s Revised National
Curriculum Statement for Grades R-9 (RNCS) (Schools). South African teachers had to be
retrained to implement these curriculum changes. The decolonisation of the curriculum put
teachers in an immensely powerful position, they had to execute a curriculum that was
diverse and catered to all races, religions, and learners with language barriers. The curriculum
still is such susceptible to change to ensure inclusive education for all. The curriculum is
biased to the availability of resources, like textbooks or labs. The teacher needs to sequence
the knowledge in such a way that it comes across to all learners as holistic and inclusive. The
curriculum is a fabric which the teacher designs and sews. An immense amount of skill set
and experience is required to cater the curriculum to the whole classroom
The teacher as a lifelong learner or researcher: The teacher is professionally growing
throughout her career. In one article, it mentions Most successful people have a growth
mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset. Teachers undoubtedly have a growth mindset.
cchiaro. (2023, December 14). Why You Need to Be a Lifelong Learner - Graduate Programs
for Educators. Graduate Programs for Educators.
https://www.graduateprogram.org/blog/why-you-need-to-be-a-lifelong-learner/
Accepting constructive criticism, learning from feedback, and embracing the opportunity, a
supervisor comes to see and criticise your lesson and growing from being a beginner teacher
to an experienced one all forms part of learning. Every era brings a new challenge that
teachers must master like the digital era, required teachers to be technologically driven.
Incorporate technology
in lessons to make content relevant. I remember using channels like YouTube to enhance my
lesson at school or simply to gauge engagement,
The teacher as an assessor- Assessment is crucial to a learner as it aids in recognising
learners' relative strengths and weaknesses, the teacher as an assessor executes this by giving
learners various assessments like baseline assessment which is done usually at the beginning
of the
lesson. This assessment serves as a memory gauger. Indirectly, the teacher also assesses her
pedagogies, and what teaching methods, if differently could help learners understand better.
The teacher should be aware that assessment is not mere allocation of grades but as Swaffield
describes a more intriguing concept of the word assessment, he believed that assessment
derived from the Latin word Assid ere, meant to sit beside. The teacher would be actively
