In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With that belief, we started the St John’s College Internship programme in 2007, which runs from Pre-Prep through to the College. Although the different sectors of the school necessitate different requirements for admission onto the programme, the goal is universal: to ensure that prospective teachers are afforded unparalleled experience whilst they train to become teachers.
St John’s supports the interns on various levels, including university fees, stipends, books, accommodation, and most importantly, relevant and practical teaching experience. The intention of this project is to shape confident, inspired and inspiring teachers who will pass the gift of quality education on to future generations. A single teacher touches the lives of many, and the effect is exponential.
With many qualified teachers leaving the country and transformation in the teaching profession a priority, it is crucial for us to “grow our own timber” as we consider our long-term plans to retain and develop the kind of excellent teachers that define St John’s. An intensive and effective internship programme is essential for us to achieve this. It is our goal to spend the next three years significantly stepping up the teacher internship programme and integrating it across the Pre-Prep, Prep and College.
The St John’s College Teacher Internship Programme is supported by Trusts and Foundations and Corporate Social Investment initiatives, and it is our intention to increase this support as the programme grows. The Beyond 125 Campaign aims to raise R15 million to develop the programme significantly over the next five years.