Career Plans of Final-year South African Student Teachers: Migration to Greener Pastures?

Abstract

Teacher loss due to migration is a global phenomenon that impacts both developed and developing nations the world over. The aim of this study was to find out about the career plans of final-year South African student teachers. A group of final-year Bachelor of Education student teachers from a South African university responded to a questionnaire on intra- and intercontinental migration. The responses were analysed quantitatively and/or qualitatively. The findings showed that 79% of the students indicated that they would be teaching in South Africa, 8% were planning to teach in another country, while 8% were undecided. More than a third of the students (38%) said that they would like to teach in another country in five years? time. Just more than a quarter of the students (27%) preferred Australia as a destination country. The student teachers? most important motive to teach in a foreign country was the opportunity to travel, followed by earning a higher salary, and professional...