Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2021

L.N. 386 of 2021

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

The Conduct of the Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate

Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2021

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74 (5) and 75 (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 articles 75 (3) and 79 (b) of the said Act

Citation

These regulations may be cited as The Conduct of the Matriculation and

Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (Amendment) Regulations, 2021,

and shall be read and construed as one with the The Conduct of the Matriculation

and Secondary Education Certificate Examinations Regulations, 2013, published as

Legal Notice 132 of 2013, hereinafter referred to as “the principal regulations”.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to examinations held from 1 January 2021 onwards.

Amendment to regulation 4 of the principal regulations

For regulation 4 of the principal regulations there shall be substituted

the following

“Composition of Subject Panels

The composition of each of the panels shall be as follows

(1) Syllabus Panels: The members on the Syllabus Panel are chosen for the

expertise they can offer and after consultation with the bodies concerned. In

exceptional circumstances, an advisor may be appointed. One of the members

shall take the chair.

(a) In the case of the Secondary Education Certificate Examination

(i) a Syllabus Panel shall be composed of representatives from the academic

staff of the University, the competent Directorate of the Ministry responsible for

Education, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), the Institute

for Tourism Studies (ITS), the Church Schools’ Association and the Independent

Schools Association, as appropriate;

(ii) the number of academic staff of the University shall, as far as possible, not

exceed half the total number of members of the panels; and

(iii) the number of Syllabus Panels chaired by members of the academic staff

of the University shall not exceed half the number of panels.

(b) In the case of the Matriculation Examination a Syllabus Panel for subjects

at Advanced and Intermediate Levels shall be composed of representatives from the

academic staff of the University and one from each of the post-secondary institutions

recognized by the MATSEC Board. The chairperson of the syllabus panel will be

chosen by the MATSEC Board after consultation with the head of the University of

Malta Department where the subject is taught, where applicable.

(c) All Syllabus Panels shall be appointed by Senate on the recommendation of

the MATSEC Board.

(2) Paper Setters’ Panels: A Paper Setters’ Panel shall be composed of at least

two members, one of whom shall take the chairperson. The panel shall be appointed

by the Senate of the University on the recommendation of the MATSEC Board.

(3) Markers’ Panels: A Markers’ Panel shall be composed of at least two

members. The panel will be chaired by the Paper Setters’ chairperson. The panel shall

be appointed by the Senate of the University on the recommendation of the MATSEC

Board.”

Amendment to regulations 5, 7, 10, 11 and 12 of the principal regulations

In regulations 5, 7, 10, 11 and 12 of the principal regulations, reference

4. to “MATSEC Support Unit” shall be changed to “MATSEC”.

Amendment to regulation 8 of the principal regulations

For regulation 8 of the principal regulations there shall be substituted

the following

“Internal and External Verification

The assessment of subjects marked with an asterisk in the Secondary

Education Certificate Examination Regulations 2014 shall be subject to verification.

(a) For each of these subjects an External Verifier shall be appointed by Senate,

on the recommendation of the MATSEC Board.

(b) The role of the External Verifier is to ensure that the planning, delivery and

assessment of the programme meets the standard expected by the MATSEC Board.

The External Verifier shall also make suggestions about the improvement of quality

as necessary.

(c) Internal Verifiers, appointed by the schools responsible for students taking

the subject, shall verify that the assignments set by the teachers meet the required

standards and that their assessment decisions are fair and consistent. The External

Verifier shall monitor and report on the internal verification.

(d) The External Verifier shall chair the Paper Setters’ and Markers’ Panel for

these subjects. These Panels shall be responsible for setting the controlled assessments

and the setting and marking of the synoptic tests for each Unit as specified in the

syllabus.

(e) The External Verifier shall moderate the results of the controlled assessments

and the synoptic tests.”

Amendment regulation 11 of the principal regulations

For paragraph (2) of regulation 11 of the principal regulations there

6. shall be substituted the following

“(2)

The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the Chairperson of the

MATSEC Examinations Board, the Director of the MATSEC, the Principal Subject

Area Officer responsible for the subject in which the irregularity took place, a member

appointed by the MATSEC Board, and the Chairperson of the Markers’ Panel of the

examination as appropriate.”

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