Our interest and work focuses on children aged 0-11 years and the learning process in early years and primary education. We strive to promote quality teaching and learning, offering a range of courses at different levels focusing on different student age levels and subject areas.
The Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education was set up in December 1990 as the Department of Primary Education (with its name changed in 2013) with the remit of providing initial teacher-training at primary level. Since then, the department strives to provide quality pre-service teacher-training leading to the formation of education professionals working with early years and primary school-aged children. Over the years, the Department has evolved with greater specialisation in the courses that it offers. It has reflected changes in social and educational issues, enriching its courses by the strengthening of aspects such as technology in education, inclusive pedagogies, multiculturalism and children’s rights among others.
The Department has also been active in contributing to policy development in early years and primary education at a national level. Furthermore, the Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education has taken an active role in the development of the National Minimum Curriculum of 1999, as well as the National Curriculum Framework of 2012. Its staff also contributes to the knowledge on teaching and learning in early years and primary education through research publications at both national and international level.
In line with the Faculty of Education Vision, the Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education recognises the challenges that the current changing and increasingly more complex societies pose on the education and preparation of future generations. We recognise the value of education of children, particularly at foundation level within early years and primary education as a good thing in itself.
We strive to foster teaching and learning which is intellectually demanding, and which supports young children in their cognitive learning, as well as their social and emotional development. In response to the current societal challenges, we promote culturally responsive curricula and pedagogies, as well as appreciate and esteem different cultures and knowledge. We also promote the development of competences such as innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and creativity, critical literacy, entrepreneurship and innovation in line with the Framework for the Education Strategy of Malta.
The Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education is responsible for supporting the training of education professionals working within the early years and primary level of education. Our main role within the Faculty of Education is to provide initial teacher training in early years and primary education, from kindergarten to the end of primary education. Our members of staff contribute to the Faculty by sitting on and contributing to Faculty-wide committees.
The Department also plays a role in policy development through the representation of its members on different committees at national level. It also works with schools, supporting senior management teams and teachers in improving their practice as they strive to provide a good education within the early years and primary education.
Members of the Department are also involved in a number of projects where they work with schools, the Ministry of Education, community organisations and other players in education.
Our Department strongly believes in family and community involvement in the education process, and promotes different forms of collaboration with different key players in education through its training courses. We are open to initiatives and embark on projects within the community with the aim of supporting the education and development of children, particularly those in most need of support.
We continually strive to be one of the key players in the early years and primary education sector. Members of the department contribute to initiatives and policy development in early years and primary education at national level. They sit on national committees with the remit of policy development, as well as overseeing pilot projects and other initiatives implemented by government. The ‘one tablet per child’ is one example where the department has contributed through one of its members sitting on the national committee.
We are currently striving to forge closer collaboration with kindergarten and primary schools. The aim of this initiative is to find ways through which we can support schools by providing staff development training and strategic support in specific areas within which schools feel a need for improvement. Schools can support us by sharing their physical resources as well as by opening up for research.
We are also committed to internationalisation: our staff members participate in ERASMUS staff teaching experiences and international scholars contribute to our teaching programmes as well as discussions at Department level. Student mobility abroad is supported with a percentage of students opting to go on ERASMUS exchanges each year.