4.4. College governance, management and organisation

Teacher education is the responsibility of the provincial department of education (up to 2000). In terms of line management functions the provincial ministry is ultimately responsible for the teacher education programme at the college. With the incorporation of the college sector by higher education, teacher education will become a responsibility of the national ministry of education.

Historically Edgewood College of Education had a close working relationship with the University of Natal (Durban). The Education Act of 1967 (for White Education) stipulated that the training of secondary teachers had to be at a university or offered at a college of education in association with a university. In 1976 the Edgewood College Council was constituted and this allowed the college greater autonomy. This led to the introduction of courses at Edgewood, conducted in collaboration with the University of Natal (Durban), for the training of secondary school teachers.

Presently the B. Primary Education, B. Secondary Education and Secondary Diploma are offered and taught at Edgewood by staff employed by the College. The University of Natal awards the degree. There are no undergraduate teaching degrees or post first degree teaching diplomas offered by the University of Natal (Durban). In this affiliation model the Edgewood and University of Natal staff work together in developing the courses. The University staff have the function of moderating and ensuring quality control of the courses. The University of Natal has representatives on the Edgewood Senate and Council, though Edgewood College does not have the same relationship on the University of Natal campus. At the time of the interviews (March 2000) the Edgewood staff is happy with the relationship and has found that it is a healthy relationship.

The Rector and a Management Team consisting of the Rector, Deputy Rector, Vice Rector and Senior Head of Department, manage the college on a day to day basis. With the exception of the Rector, whose position was confirmed in February 2000, all the others were in acting positions. Many of the Heads of Department are also in acting positions. The college staff is organised around departments like Science, Junior Primary Studies, Human Movement Studies, Religious Studies, English, Afrikaans, Education, Zulu etc. This organisation is in terms of the old curriculum structure that emphasises separateness and does not reflect the shift to an outcomes-based education curriculum where there is a strong integrative element. A Management member indicated that the college has maintained its old organisational structure while the fate of the college is decided.

The college operates from 08h00 to 16h00 from Monday to Thursday for staff and students and on Friday the students attend from 08h00 to 13h00 and the staff attend until 16h00. The timetable is designed to offer 33 hours of instructional time per week. On average teacher educators teach for 18 hours per week. According to the labour regulations, college teacher educators have to work for 40 hours. At the college this is made up of about 20 hours teaching time and 20 hours preparation time. The college functions well during the year and staff and students agreed that it is rare for lectures to be cancelled at the college.