Why Is Educare A Great Career Choice?

As part of the NATED (National Accredited Trade and Education Diploma) series of accredited courses offered by many FET, TVET and Private Colleges and Institutions, Educare remains one of the most prestigious and chosen qualifications. 


The reason for this is that the need for educated and experienced caretakers, teachers and childcare professionals is always in high demand.

Choosing where to study Educare is an important step in pursuing a career in Early Childhood Development (ECD). When you choose Bellview Institute of Distance Learning, you are guaranteed only the best in distance learning. Our Educare Qualifications are recognised and accredited both nationally and internationally.

Bellview Institute of Distance Learning is accredited by the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) to offer Educare: 01-QCTO/SDP290618-2617

Educare: NATED Qualifications are broken down into the following study streams:

What Exactly Is Educare?


Educare covers a broad range of subject matter that relates to the caretaking and education of children during their early developmental years. This being from birth till the age of 5. 

 

The main focus of Educare being that every student who completes their National Diploma in Educare be equipped with the needed knowledge and skills to comprehensively and intuitively support, care for and educate children.

 

This support, care and education revolves around the first stages of a child’s life and is thus a very important part of the growing and learning phase of every individual. 

 

Educare students will learn how to identify and work with early childhood illnesses and developmental problems. They will learn how to prepare effective lessons that aid in the overall growth of a child. The qualification also teaches students ways to correctly apply and use communication skills with both children and colleagues.

 

Educare also covers much more, it aims to enable those who are qualified to open and manage their own early childhood development centres such as creches and pre-schools.

Educare As A Career Choice

After completing your Educare NATED Qualification, the way forward is lined with possibilities. Beyond the possible career paths that Educare leads to, the benefits of working in the field are just as numerous. 

Career Opportunities With Educare

Once you have successfully completed your qualification in Educare, and are ready to enter the world of possible careers, there are a few stand-out options. These options include:


  • Daycare Centre Administrator
    As a Daycare Centre Administrator you will be responsible for the administration and day-to-day operations of an ECD facility. This career involves a range of technical and administrative skills. That being said you will be the individual who focuses on the efficient management of all interactions between the children, other staff members, and parents. 


  • Au Pair
    An Au Pair is a career path that young people are pursuing more and more. The reason for this is the flexible work hours, the ability to work hours to equal a good salary, and then finally, the possibility of international employment. Being an Au Pair will require you to not only care for the educational needs of the children in your care, but also the day-to-day needs as they arise (including transporting children, preparing meals and engaging in hobbies and sporting activities).


  • Babysitter
    As a babysitter you will be tasked with the total care of a child or children in an unsupervised role. This almost always involves doing so in the privacy of their own home and in the absence of their parents. Odd working hours are a possibility but so are very flexible hours, which you can use to your advantage when it comes to a salary.


  • Daycare Manager
    When you choose to follow a career as a Daycare Manager, you take on the managerial side of ECD facilities. This is an ideal position for individuals who have a strong sense of responsibility, great administrative skills, high-quality interpersonal skills, and a love for children. Running an entire ECD facility will require you to truly have a passion for the development, wellness and education of children.

 

  • ECD Childcare Assistant
    In this role you will be the primary assistant to the designated classroom teacher of whichever facility you work at. This means that you will be responsible for making sure that the classroom or careroom environment is positive, fun and educational. At times you might be asked to monitor the children when the main teacher is unavailable.


  • Infant, Toddler, or Preschool Teacher
    Using an Educare qualification to become an infant, toddler, or preschool teacher depends on your prospective employer. If the facility and your employer are willing to allow you to fulfill the role of teacher, they can possibly ask you to further your studies whilst you work for them. This is a great opportunity to develop a career for yourself. As a teacher for this age group of children involves being extremely loving, hands-on, passionate and gentle, but is very rewarding!

Personal Benefits Of Pursuing A Career In Educare

Beyond just the employment opportunities and benefits, following a career in Educare provides a large variety of personal benefits as well. The personal effects of being involved with early childhood development have the potential to be life changing, and there are many reasons for this.

 

For example:

  • Having a career that is both fun and enjoyable
  • The increase in employment opportunities
  • It is both a reliable and fulfilling career
  • Flexibility in work schedule
  • The sharing and gaining of knowledge
  • Challenging but very rewarding
  • It cultivates creativity
  •  

The Rewards Of Having A Career In Educare

Having a career in Educare, just like any other profession, will reward you as you progress. The rewarding elements of a career in Educare is what draws almost all individuals to it. These are the most notable rewards that you can expect when you choose a career in this field.

 

  • It will increase your communication skills
  • Develop your ability to plan and teach
  • Grow your creative thinking skills
  • Your ability to make decisions under pressure will increase
  • Analytical skills
  • You will gain excellent organizational skills
  • Your leadership abilities will improve
  • Add to your physical and mental growth

Increasing Your Communication Skills

When you choose a career in Educare, regardless of which one, your communication skills will be increased as you progress. Working with children during their developmental years requires you to actively focus on how you communicate. Working in Educare means that you will continuously improve your written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills. 

Developing Your Planning And Instruction Skills

Being employed in the Educare field will occasionally require you to make use of your abilities to plan certain activities and lessons. These activities will focus on the physical and social interactions that you will have with the children. The lesson planning will focus more on the early educational needs of the children such as reading and writing.

Creative Thinking

Requiring a good sense of creativity, working in childcare will advance this skill. Using creative thinking to plan and organize fun activities, events and ways to keep children engaged and motivated. Finding ways and methods to keep these activities creative and fun can be challenging, but the benefit of using the creative side of your brain more and more will only benefit you in the long run.

Decision Making Skills

Working in an environment that is based on the care and welfare of children will place you in daily situations where your ability to make rational, analytical and beneficial decisions will be both tested and improved. Making the correct choices and taking action in emergency situations will also be an aspect of your career in Educare that is highly rewarding.

Development Of Analytical Skills

The analytical aspects of working in Educare will come into play when you are tasked with the weighing of daily operations as a childcare worker. This includes curriculum planning, extra-curricular activities, the benefits of certain tasks and activities on the children themselves, to name a few. Practicing your analytical abilities everyday will cultivate you to apply these skills outside of your career as well.

Gaining Excellent Organizational Skills

Having and effectively improving your organizational skills as you work is one of the biggest advantages of a career as a childcare professional. These skills will help you in situations where you are either the sole caretaker of a child or if you are working in a classroom environment. Maintaining student files, result recording and other administrative tasks will reward you with excellent organizational skills.

Growth In Leadership Qualities

Tasked with the setting up and maintenance of a leadership role in an environment of working with children, is an essential quality you will gain and improve as you work. Children are easily influenced and thus they need someone who is an excellent leader and mentor. As the children grow and learn from you, you yourself will grow and improve, adjusting your leadership style as the need arises.

Physical And Mental Growth

Working with young children can be quite physical at times. By engaging them on a daily basis not just from an educational point of view but also from a physical perspective, will literally keep you on your toes. Daily improvement of both your physical and mental state is one of the most enduring rewards of working in Educare.

Author: Morné van Emmenis
Editor: Megan Dreyer
Date Published: December 1, 2021

Can I Complete My Matric Online?

You have the chance to get a matric certificate by doing an Adult Matric course. You can do this course if you have not written matric or if you did not pass your matric year. The Amended Senior Certificate will give you the same qualification as a Traditional Senior Certificate.

What Do I Need For An Adult Matric Course?

You need the following for the Adult Matric application:

You can start studying for your Adult Matric when you are 19. You can, however, only write your final matric exams when you are 21 or older.

Can Matric Be Done Online?

If you choose to study Adult Matric via a Distance Learning institution like Bellview, you can get your matric certificate through online studying. The certificate you will get is fully accredited and you will not have any classes to attend.

Studying matric online will allow you to set up a schedule that suits you, virtually submit your assignments, and save money on not having to pay for extra traveling or the use of facilities.

Accreditation For Adult Matric At Bellview

The Amended Senior Certificate (Adult Matric) course has the following SAQA ID: 49647. This certificate is on an NQF 4 level. Bellview Institute of Distance Learning has been accredited for the QCTO by the ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers).

There is no need for registered educational institutions to undergo an accreditation process to offer this course. This is why Bellview does not need to undergo this process and the qualification is fully accredited by Umalusi.

What Are The Benefits Of Having A Matric Certificate?

A matric certificate is a good qualification to have. It will open the doors to many different opportunities, like:

When choosing to further your studies through Distance Learning, some of the accredited courses that you would be able to do are the General Management Courses offered by Bellview Institute of Distance Learning. 

These courses are accredited and the qualification that you receive will be both nationally and internationally recognised. So not only will you gain theoretical and practical knowledge on how to successfully manage a business, but the career opportunites will be endless.

Adult Matric Duration

You can complete the Adult Matric course in one of the following time frames:

  • 12 months (1 year)
  • 24 months (2 years)
  • 36 months (3 years)

This course covers work from grade 10 to matric. Since this is three years of study material, you can complete the course in 3 years. However, doing the course in 12-14 months is recommended.

Do Universities Accept The Amended Senior Certificate?

Amended Senior Certificates are accepted by universities. You will need to pass matric with a Bachelor’s Degree Pass in order to meet the university’s minimum requirements. 

There are also many other entrance requirements that are specific to each university. You will have to meet all of these specifications just to apply. Universities also compare all of their applications and only take in a small selection.

Applying For Adult Matric With Bellview

You can apply to study Adult Matric with Bellview in the following ways:

Author: Karla Nortier
Editor: Megan Dreyer
Date Published: November 26, 2021