Reframing teacher preparedness in rural early childhood education in South Africa

Background: Early childhood education (ECE) is central to addressing educational inequality and supporting children’s well-being. Rural ECE settings in South Africa remain influenced by structural disadvantage, resource constraints and enduring gaps in who teaches in rural areas. Aim: This study examines how teacher preparedness in rural early childhood education is conceptualised and reconceptualised through social justice and ethics of care. Setting: The review focuses on rural early childhood education in South Africa, drawing on relevant national international literature. Methods: A systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework identified and synthesised peer-reviewed studies and policy documents on early childhood education, rural education and teacher preparation. The literature was analysed thematically to identify recurring patterns, conceptual gaps and common understandings of teacher preparedness which informed the development of the proposed conceptual framework. Results: This review argues that dominant constructions of teacher preparedness, commonly framed around pedagogical competence, are insufficient for rural early childhood contexts. Such models marginalise the contextual, relational and ethical dimensions of teaching. Effective preparedness requires community engagement, cultural and linguistic responsiveness and the capacity to navigate the structural inequalities that shape educational practice. Conclusion: For a rural ECE teacher, the preparedness needs to be multi-tiered and should balance technical skills with contextually responsive, relational and ethically grounded practices. Contribution: Grounded in social justice and ethics of care, the study offers a conceptual framework for rethinking teacher education in rural contexts. It has implications for teacher education programmes, policy reform and professional development aimed at strengthening equitable, context-responsive early childhood education in South Africa.