Springfield College of Education

Springfield College of Education was an educational tertiary institution that was located in Asherville in Durban in the early years of Apartheid, to train primary and secondary Indian school teachers. Under the Union of South Africa, teacher training for Indian communities had either taken place at Satri College in the Non-European Section of Natal University College or Durban Girl's High School.

Between 1912 and 1950, state and state aided Indian school institutions increased from 39 to 172. Following World War Two, Indian teachers began to upgrade their academic and professional qualifications. In 1946, The Wilks Commission in Natal had recommended that all Indian children should have to attend school until they were 13 years old. Springfield College of Education was established in 1951.

1952 - a two-year post-school qualification was introduced at Springfield. . A Shakespeare production tradition begins at the College.
1957 a public company formed by The Natal Indian Teachers Society with teachers as shareholders
1961 Salisbury Island in Durban harbour becomes a University College for Indians
1964 Control of Indian primary, secondary education and teacher training is transferred to the Department of Indian Affairs.
1965 - The Indian Education Act of 1965 (No. 61 of 1965) ushers in a new era for Indian education
1967 - a three year course to teach up to standard 8 is introduced at Springfield College .
1968- the South African Indian Council (SAIC) was established in terms of the South African Indian Council Act (Act No. 31 of 1968)
1969the former University College (on salisbury Island) is elevated to full university status
1972The University of Durban-Westville is established.
1980 Almost all Indian teachers are recognised as qualified teachers
1995 - Desegregation begins at Springfield and African and Indian students begin to integrate
1999 - Springfield merges with other colleges of education.

Springfield College's first rector with Indian origin was Dr GK Nair

References

↑ Wolhuter, C.C. (2006). "Teacher Training in South Africa:Past Present and Future" (PDF). Education Research and Perspectives. 33 (2).
↑ "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.
↑ Natal Indian Teachers Society Golden Jubilee (1925-50) (PDF) (Report).
↑ Samuels, Pat (1985). "Indian Education, a brief overview". Indicator SA. 2 (4).
↑ Education beyond Apartheid (PDF) (Report). 1971.
↑ "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.
↑ "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.
↑ Pearce, B. (2013). "The Springfield College Shakespeare Productions". Shakespeare in Southern Africa. 25. doi:10.4314/sisa.v25i1.8. hdl:10520/EJC142416.
↑ elainenaidoo (2016-05-24). "History of the Natal Indian Teachers Society (NITS)". Rising Sun Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
↑ Guest, Bill (2017). STELLA AURORAE: THE HISTORY OF A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. Natal Society Foundation.
↑ "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.
↑ Naguran, Chinnapen Amatchi. "A critical study of aspects of the political, constitutional, administrative and professional development of Indian teacher education in South Africa with particular reference to the period 1965 to 1984." Thesis, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3237.
↑ "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.
↑ Magesvari, Govender (1995). Cross-Cultural Ccommunication: An investigation into compliment response behaviour of Indian and African students at the Springfield College of Education (Thesis). hdl:10413/6478.
↑ Opinion (2024-11-22). "Tributes, tears flowed for journalist's wife". IOL. Retrieved 2025-10-06.

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[1] Wolhuter, C.C. (2006). "Teacher Training in South Africa:Past Present and Future" (PDF). Education Research and Perspectives. 33 (2).

[2] "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.

[3] Natal Indian Teachers Society Golden Jubilee (1925-50) (PDF) (Report).

[4] Samuels, Pat (1985). "Indian Education, a brief overview". Indicator SA. 2 (4).

[5] Education beyond Apartheid (PDF) (Report). 1971.

[6] "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.

[7] "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.

[8] Pearce, B. (2013). "The Springfield College Shakespeare Productions". Shakespeare in Southern Africa. 25. doi:10.4314/sisa.v25i1.8. hdl:10520/EJC142416.

[9] (2016-05-24). "History of the Natal Indian Teachers Society (NITS)". Rising Sun Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-10-06.

[10] Guest, Bill (2017). STELLA AURORAE: THE HISTORY OF A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. Natal Society Foundation.

[11] "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.

[12] Naguran, Chinnapen Amatchi. "A critical study of aspects of the political, constitutional, administrative and professional development of Indian teacher education in South Africa with particular reference to the period 1965 to 1984." Thesis, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3237.

[13] "Indian Teachers make great strides". Sunday Tribune. 2019.

[14] Magesvari, Govender (1995). Cross-Cultural Ccommunication: An investigation into compliment response behaviour of Indian and African students at the Springfield College of Education (Thesis). hdl:10413/6478.

[15] Opinion (2024-11-22). "Tributes, tears flowed for journalist's wife". IOL. Retrieved 2025-10-06.