BTE2601 ASSIGNMENT 5 Portfolio 2025 of Evidence: The
Seven Roles of Educators
Student Name:
Student Number:
Module: Becoming a Teacher (BTE2601)
School: Maswanganyi High School
Mentor Teacher: Xichavo Hope (Grade 11 Physical Science)
Contact Details: 0793226427
Submission Deadline: 08 October 2025
,STUDENT DECLARATION FORM
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Department emphasizes the importance of integrity and ethical conduct in all
submitted academic work. While lecturers can guide you on referencing techniques and
avoiding plagiarism, it is your responsibility to adhere to these principles. If unsure
about any aspect of academic honesty, consult your lecturers or supervisors before
submitting your work.
Plagiarism involves presenting someone else's ideas, words, or work as your own
without proper acknowledgment. This includes copying from books, websites, articles,
or even fellow students’ work. It is considered a serious academic offense because it
undermines the integrity of the educational process and disrespects intellectual
property rights. Engaging in plagiarism can lead to severe consequences, including the
loss of credits, disciplinary action, or expulsion from the university.
All assignments must be accompanied by a fully completed and signed declaration
form. Failure to include this declaration will result in your work being returned ungraded,
delaying your assessment process.
I (full names): …………………………
Student Number: ……………………………..
Module: BTE2601
Declare that:
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am familiar with the university’s
policies and regulations regarding academic integrity.
2. This assignment is my original work, and where I have used external sources, I
have provided accurate citations and references.
3. I have not used work from another student and will not permit others to copy or
submit my work as their own.
Signature: ………………………… Date: 16/09/2025
, 1.1 Introduction
Teaching in South Africa is a complex, multifaceted profession that encompasses far
more than the simple transmission of knowledge. It involves shaping the social,
emotional, ethical, and intellectual development of learners within diverse and often
challenging contexts. Teachers are expected to be adaptable, reflective, and committed
to lifelong learning, continuously improving their practice to meet the needs of their
learners.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), through its Minimum
Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ), articulates a
comprehensive framework that defines the professional roles teachers should embody.
These seven roles serve as the foundation for understanding what it means to be an
effective and ethical educator in contemporary South Africa. They are intended to guide
teachers in developing a professional identity that is holistic, responsive, and grounded
in ethical principles.
These roles are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. For example, a teacher acting
as a learning mediator must also assess learners fairly, interpret curriculum content
thoughtfully, and engage with the wider community. Such interconnectedness ensures
that teachers do not operate in isolation but as integral parts of a broader educational
ecosystem that aims to foster learners’ development in all dimensions.
This portfolio will explore these seven roles from three perspectives:
• Theoretical insights derived from academic literature, policy documents, and
scholarly debates that underpin each role.
• Practical insights from an in-service teacher, Xichavo Hope, a Grade 11 Physical
Science teacher at Maswanganyi High School, located in a township setting. Her
experiences illustrate how these roles manifest in real classroom and
community contexts.
• Personal reflection on my own developmental journey and how I envisage
embodying these roles in my future teaching career, especially in the Life
Sciences discipline.
The ultimate goal of this assignment is to demonstrate how a synthesis of theory,
practical application, and personal growth can deepen our understanding of what it
means to be a professional teacher committed to ethical and effective practice.
1.2 Specialist in a Phase, Subject, Discipline, or Practice
Theoretical Perspective
The role of a specialist emphasizes the importance of deep content knowledge and
pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). According to Lee Shulman (1986), effective
Seven Roles of Educators
Student Name:
Student Number:
Module: Becoming a Teacher (BTE2601)
School: Maswanganyi High School
Mentor Teacher: Xichavo Hope (Grade 11 Physical Science)
Contact Details: 0793226427
Submission Deadline: 08 October 2025
,STUDENT DECLARATION FORM
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Department emphasizes the importance of integrity and ethical conduct in all
submitted academic work. While lecturers can guide you on referencing techniques and
avoiding plagiarism, it is your responsibility to adhere to these principles. If unsure
about any aspect of academic honesty, consult your lecturers or supervisors before
submitting your work.
Plagiarism involves presenting someone else's ideas, words, or work as your own
without proper acknowledgment. This includes copying from books, websites, articles,
or even fellow students’ work. It is considered a serious academic offense because it
undermines the integrity of the educational process and disrespects intellectual
property rights. Engaging in plagiarism can lead to severe consequences, including the
loss of credits, disciplinary action, or expulsion from the university.
All assignments must be accompanied by a fully completed and signed declaration
form. Failure to include this declaration will result in your work being returned ungraded,
delaying your assessment process.
I (full names): …………………………
Student Number: ……………………………..
Module: BTE2601
Declare that:
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am familiar with the university’s
policies and regulations regarding academic integrity.
2. This assignment is my original work, and where I have used external sources, I
have provided accurate citations and references.
3. I have not used work from another student and will not permit others to copy or
submit my work as their own.
Signature: ………………………… Date: 16/09/2025
, 1.1 Introduction
Teaching in South Africa is a complex, multifaceted profession that encompasses far
more than the simple transmission of knowledge. It involves shaping the social,
emotional, ethical, and intellectual development of learners within diverse and often
challenging contexts. Teachers are expected to be adaptable, reflective, and committed
to lifelong learning, continuously improving their practice to meet the needs of their
learners.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), through its Minimum
Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ), articulates a
comprehensive framework that defines the professional roles teachers should embody.
These seven roles serve as the foundation for understanding what it means to be an
effective and ethical educator in contemporary South Africa. They are intended to guide
teachers in developing a professional identity that is holistic, responsive, and grounded
in ethical principles.
These roles are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. For example, a teacher acting
as a learning mediator must also assess learners fairly, interpret curriculum content
thoughtfully, and engage with the wider community. Such interconnectedness ensures
that teachers do not operate in isolation but as integral parts of a broader educational
ecosystem that aims to foster learners’ development in all dimensions.
This portfolio will explore these seven roles from three perspectives:
• Theoretical insights derived from academic literature, policy documents, and
scholarly debates that underpin each role.
• Practical insights from an in-service teacher, Xichavo Hope, a Grade 11 Physical
Science teacher at Maswanganyi High School, located in a township setting. Her
experiences illustrate how these roles manifest in real classroom and
community contexts.
• Personal reflection on my own developmental journey and how I envisage
embodying these roles in my future teaching career, especially in the Life
Sciences discipline.
The ultimate goal of this assignment is to demonstrate how a synthesis of theory,
practical application, and personal growth can deepen our understanding of what it
means to be a professional teacher committed to ethical and effective practice.
1.2 Specialist in a Phase, Subject, Discipline, or Practice
Theoretical Perspective
The role of a specialist emphasizes the importance of deep content knowledge and
pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). According to Lee Shulman (1986), effective
