University Of Mpumalanga In Siyabuswa, The Siyabuswa campus of the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is the former Ndebele College of Education that has been re-opened with a major revamp undertaken by the Department of Higher Education, in an attempt to produce more teachers for South Africa. 100 new students were accepted in 2013 for the B.Ed (foundation phase) degree.
The campus is well integrated in the surrounding community that is known as the Cultural Heartland of Mpumalanga with the Mareleng Primary school hasving been chosen as a teaching school for training of the students.
Programmes
At present the only programme offered at this campus is the four-year B Ed Foundation Phase Teacher training programme. The reason why this is the first programme to be offered is the necessity to produce professionally qualified beginner teachers for the foundation phase.
Students who are successful in achieving this degree can look forward to a rewarding career teaching literacy in English and isiNdebele or isiSwati (as first language and additional language)
The programme emphasises the following:
- Child development
- Life skills
- Literacy
- Numeracy (mathematics)
- Theory and practice
Facilities
A large amount of resources has been spent to revamp the facilities at this campus and they are equipped with up to date and modern technologies:
- Auditoriums
- Consultation rooms
- Laboratories
- Lecture halls
Residences
This campus has well equipped residences but it is limited at this early stage of the campus inauguration.