EDUCATION ACT (CAP. 327)

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (inclusion and individual educational needs in primary schools) Course Regulations, 2005

In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 30 (5) and 31 (6) of the Education Act (cap. 327), the chancellor of the University of Malta has promulgated the following regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by Sections 31 and 35 of the said Act:

Citation and Interpretation

1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the postgraduate diploma in education (inclusion and individual educational needs in primary schools) course regulations, 2005.

(2) In these regulations, unless the contextotherwise requires -

"the Board" means the board of the faculty of education;

"the Diploma" means the postgraduate diploma in education (inclusion and individual educational needs in primary schools); and

"the Course" means the course of studies leading to the postgraduate diploma in education (inclusion and individual educational needs in primary schools).

Applicability

2. These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in october 2004 or later.

Qualifications for Admission

3. (1) Applicants for admission to the course shall be persons who:

(a) Are in possession of a bachelor of education (honours) degree or a postgraduate certificate in education or any other equivalent teaching qualification recognised by the board; and

(b) Are serving teachers in a recognised primary and/or secondary school and have been doing so for at least five years; and

(c) Satisfy the board, through an interview, that they have the necessary requirements to follow the course, including:

(i) Professional aptitude and disposition;
(ii) Knowledge of inclusion and special educational needs; and
(iii) Experience of working with children and young persons with disability.

(2) The board shall recommend to senate the number of applicants that may be allowed to register for the course and whether these may be drawn from the primary and/or secondary sectors, depending on the availability of resources. The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.

(3) If there are more eligible applicants than the number of places available, applicants shall be selected on their performance in the interview.

Course Duration

4. (1) the course shall extend over a period of two years of part-time study.

(2) in special circumstances, the board may allow students to complete the course in a maximum of three years.

Course Structure

5. The course of studies shall consist of the following components:

(a) study-units, to which a total of 40 credits shall be assigned, in the following areas of study:

First Year:

- Creating inclusive cultures, policies and practices
- Developing collaboration and support networks
- Understanding and responding to individual educational needs teaching lifeskills

Second Year:

- Developing collaboration and support networks
- Understanding and responding to individual educational needs;

(b) a long essay on issues of inclusive education and support for individual educational needs, to which 6 credits shall be assigned; and

(c) practice placement periods, which shall be assigned 6 credits in the first year, and 8 credits in the second year.

Catalogue of Study-units

6. The board shall draw up a catalogue of study-units. The catalogue shall indicate the code, title, description and type of each study-unit, the credits assigned to each study-unit, which study-units are compulsory, and the methods of teaching and assessment. The board shall publish the catalogue for the course prior to its commencement, following the approval of senate.

Assessment and Progress

7. Results for the assessment of the study-units, the long essay and the practice placements shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated in the table below:

Mark Grade  Range

80% -100%        A
70% - 79%         B
55% - 69%         C
45% - 54%         D
0 - 44%              F

Both the percentage mark and the grade shall be recorded in the students' academic record. However, only the percentage mark shall be used for the purpose of calculating the students' progression and the final classification of the diploma.

8. (1) Students who fail in the assessment of a study-unit shall be allowed a re-assessment once only, within the provisions of paragraph (2) of regulation 4. If successful, the maximum marks and grade that may be awarded shall be 45% - grade D.

(2) If after re-assessment, students do not obtain the required credits, they shall be required to withdraw from the course.

9. To proceed to the second year of the course, students must obtain 30 credits, which must include the 6 credits assigned to the practice placements.

10. Students who opt not to proceed or who do not successfully complete the second year of the course shall be awarded a postgraduate certificate in inclusion and individual educational needs.

Practice Placements

11. (1) the practice placements shall extend over the whole academic periods of the two years.

(2) Students who fail the practice placements shall be allowed to repeat them once, within the provisions of paragraph (2) of regulation 4. The practice placement shall be carried out within the first semester of the following academic year. If successful, the maximum marks/grade that may be awarded shall be 45% - grade D.

Award of the Diploma

12. (1) To qualify for the award of the diploma, students must obtain 60 credits, which must include the 6 credits assigned to the long essay, and the 14 credits assigned to the practice placements.

(2) The final result of each student shall take into account the results obtained in the assessment of all the components (study-units, long essay and practice placements) of the course, which shall be weighted according to the number of credits assigned to each component.

(3) The names of students who qualify for the award of the diploma shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows:

Passed with Distinction
Passed.