Wits School of Education

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Education at Wits World-class research, top academic programmes, research-based teacher training.

Message from the Head of School What we teach, how we teach, and whom we teach are pivotal in creating a teaching and learning experience that is relevant and responsive to our students.

100 Years of Teacher Education The history of WSOE dates back to 1909 and the Johannesburg Normal College, which later changed its name to Johannesburg Teachers College and, in the 1940s, to the Johannesburg College of Education.

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Why study teaching and education?

Education is a broad discipline that includes learning how to teach others and understanding how people learn during different stages of their lives. The focus of what you study will depend on your interests: Is early childhood education a passion, or would you like to teach older learners? Are you interested in lifelong learning, education policy or curriculum design? Whatever your choice, you have a chance to impact the lives of others.

Study with us

Why study with us?

We offer high-quality teaching and thoughtfully developed undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Further to this, we offer teacher development in diverse subject areas for in-service teachers. Our research interests are varied, ranging from Mathematics Literacy and Multilingual Education to Early Childhood Development and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

History of the School

Latest NewsNews

National Research Foundation rates Wits researchers highly 11 August 2025

Wits University to host the 25th International Congress on the Education of the Deaf 11 July 2025

A tale of two city universities 10 April 2025

From South Africa to China: Wits students embark on a journey of discovery 26 February 2025

Research projects, initiatives and centres

The UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity & Development promotes research and training in the field of teacher education.

The Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL) conducts research, offers academic teaching programmes and provides support to policymakers and regulatory institutions.

The Hub for Multilingual Education and Literacies (HuMEL) investigates the concurrent use of two or more languages in education.

Little boy with hearing device in classroom

The Centre for Deaf Studies: training of teachers of the Deaf, equitable learning and research in the field of Deaf Education.

The Early Grade Reading Study SRC is Improving English First Additional Language Literacy in the Foundation Phase.

Prof. Jill Adler holds the SARChI Chair in Mathematics Education. The central goal of the Chair is to strengthen the mathematics pipeline in secondary schools.

Wits Maths Connect secondary is working to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in secondary schools.