SACEE Norah Taylor

About SACEE

The South African Council for English Education, or SACEE, is a non-profit organisation founded in 1955. A small group of people who cared about the standard of spoken and written English started it. Since then, it has worked to protect and promote good English across the country. The Council is largely run by volunteers and members, and it organises activities for teachers, learners and language lovers.

The Norah Taylor Bursary began in the Pretoria branch. It was set up to help former students and teachers of the Pretoria College of Education study further in the teaching of English. Today the Council administers it nationally.

How SACEE supports teachers

Most bursaries target school-leavers. This one does not. The Norah Taylor Bursary is for qualified teachers who already work in classrooms. It funds further study in speech training, oral communication or the teaching of English as a first or second language.

Why focus on practising teachers? Many South African learners are taught in English even though it is not their home language. A teacher with deeper training in oral communication and second-language teaching can help those learners understand more. Better English skills support learning in every subject, so the benefit spreads well beyond the English period.

The study may be done by correspondence, part-time or full-time. However, it must be at an educational institution in South Africa. The bursary is awarded for one year and, according to published listings, may be renewed. The amount is not fixed and varies, so you should not count on it covering all of your costs.

What to know before applying

Eligibility is narrow. You must be a South African citizen and a qualified teacher with at least an M+3 qualification. You also need a minimum of four years of teaching experience. Matric is required as well. If you are still studying for your first teaching qualification, this bursary is not for you.

Contact details for SACEE have appeared in different forms over the years. Some listings give a postal box in KwaZulu-Natal and others point to a Pretoria office. For that reason, do not rely on an old listing. Visit the SACEE website for the latest address and for the current application form and closing date.

Think about how to make your case. Describe the course you plan to take and the institution that offers it. Explain how it will improve your teaching in a specific way. A clear plan shows the committee that you will use the funding well.

There is no known work-back obligation. Since recipients are already teachers, the Council's goal is stronger classroom practice, not recruitment. Even so, ask about any conditions at the time of the award.