Needs in Primary Schools) Course Regulations, 2005

L.N. 220 of 2005

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) 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 context otherwise 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

These regulations shall be applicable to courses starting in October 2004 or

later.

Qualifications for Admission

(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

(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

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

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

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 Range

Grade

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.

(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.

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.

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

(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

(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.

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