under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

L.N. 234 of 2023

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2023 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the

Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Primary Education - B.A. (Hons) -

under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

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 bye-laws made by the Board of the Faculty of Education in virtue of

the powers conferred upon it by article 81 (1) (c) of the said Act and which have been

approved by the Senate of the University of Malta as required by article 81 (2) of the

said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2023 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 for the degree of

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Primary Education - B.A. (Hons) - under the auspices

of the Faculty of Education.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Education;

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies appointed by Senate for

the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Bachelor

of Arts (Honours) in Primary Education - B.A. (Hons);

“the Degree” means the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Primary

Education - B.A. (Hons);

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Education;

“the Higher Diploma” means the Higher Diploma in Primary Education

Studies - H.Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Undergraduate Awards, 2019.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October

2023 or later.

Special Course Requirements for Admission

(1) To be registered as regular students in the Course, applicants

shall, apart from satisfying the general requirements for admission as specified in the

Admissions Regulations of the University, be in possession of a pass at Advanced

Matriculation Level at Grade C or better in any one subject.

(2) Applicants considered in terms of paragraph (c) of regulation 6

of the Admissions Regulations must be in possession of those qualifications and/

or experience that would satisfy the Faculty Admissions Committee that they

have reached the academic standard required to follow the Course with profit. The

eligibility of such applicants shall be decided by the University Admissions Board, on

the recommendation of the Faculty Admissions Committee, following an interview

conducted by an interviewing board appointed for the purpose.

(3) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of regulation

16 of the Admissions Regulations, the Admissions Board, acting on the advice of the

Board of Studies, may admit applicants into any year of the Course.

(4) All applicants shall submit with their application a Police Good

Conduct Certificate issued by the Commissioner of Police in terms of the Conduct

Certificates Ordinance and they shall not be included in the Register established under

the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act.

Applicants with other qualifications considered to be sufficient may

be exempted by the University Admissions Board, on the advice of the Faculty

Admissions Committee, from the whole or part of these special course requirements.

(1) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of students

that may be allowed to register for the Course, depending on the availability of

human resources and the number of suitable classes available for the field placement

component. The Board shall announce the number of available places at the time of

the call for applications, provided that 10% of such available places shall be reserved

for eligible applicants considered in terms of paragraph (2) of bye-law 3. If some

or all of the reserved places are not filled, these places shall be made available to

applicants who satisfy the general and special course requirements.

(2) When the number of applicants that may be admitted to the

Course is limited in terms of paragraph (1) of this bye-law, and the number of eligible

applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected on the

basis of their academic qualifications which shall be weighted in accordance with

selection criteria which will be published at the time of the call for applications,

provided that applicants considered in terms of paragraphs (2) and (3) of bye-law 3

shall be selected according to the following criteria

(a) knowledge and experience in educational settings; and

(b) academic qualifications.

(3) If, after the ranking order is established as indicated above, there

is a tie for one or more places, those applicants who ranked in the same position shall

be interviewed.

(4) The interviewing board, appointed by the Board for the purpose,

shall be composed of at least 3 members from the Department of Early Childhood

and Primary Education.

The University Admissions Board, after seeking the advice of the

Faculty Admissions Committee, shall first consider eligible applicants whose

qualifications were obtained in the Matriculation Certificate Examination or from

another examining board, if the Faculty Admissions Committee is satisfied that

the qualifications presented are comparable in content and equivalent in standard

to the Matriculation Certificate Examination in the same subject/s. For the purpose

of selection, applicants whose qualifications and the special course requirements as

stipulated in bye-law 3, were obtained by the 31 August preceding the commencement

of the Course shall be considered first. If vacant places are still available, applicants

who obtain all necessary qualifications and fulfil all special course requirements as

stipulated in bye-law 3 after the 31 August and before the 30 September shall be

considered to take up the remaining places.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over a period of three years of full-time study

or the equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

(1) The programme of study, which shall comprise study-units to

which 180 ECTS credits are assigned, shall be published after approval by Senate,

normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

(2) In addition to the programme of study specified in paragraph (1)

of this bye-law, students shall be further required to

(i) register for and successfully complete the study-units included in

the Communication and Academic Skills Programme (CASP); and

(ii) sit for a Maltese Aptitude Test - ‘Test ta’ Ħiliet fil-Malti’ - at the

beginning of the Course,

provided that applicants in possession of a pass in Maltese at Intermediate or

Advanced Matriculation Level at Grade C or higher, or of qualifications deemed to

be equivalent by the Board, shall be exempt from this requirement. Students who fail

the Maltese Aptitude Test shall be required to follow and successfully complete a

proficiency course in Maltese during the Course.

(1) Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of study-units

totalling 120 ECTS credits, including two field placements, and do not successfully

complete the Course, shall be entitled to the Higher Diploma.

(2) Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if they

successfully complete

(i) study-units to which 180 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of

study for the Course, and

(ii) all the study-units included in the Communication and Academic Skills

Programme (CASP); and

(iii) the Maltese Aptitude Test - ‘Test ta’ Ħiliet fil-Malti’ or the proficiency

course in Maltese, if required.

Field Placement

(1) There shall be a field placement in each year of the full-time

Course, comprising a period of observation and/or teaching in a Primary Education

school setting, under supervision, as determined by the Board, provided that for

courses followed on a part-time basis there shall be at least three field placements.

(2) The Board shall appoint a field placement Board of Examiners

that shall follow the University Assessment Regulations and any other procedures

that the Board may determine for the purpose of the field placement, provided that

such procedures are in conformity with the University Assessment Regulations.

(3) Students shall be required to obtain a Pass in all the field

placements. Students can only do one field placement in any academic year of the

Course and shall be allowed to repeat a failed field placement only once.

(4) The number of assessment visits shall be stated in the Faculty

guidelines, but examiners may increase assessment visits as they deem fit.

(5) Students shall be required to abide by the Field Placement Code

of Ethics and Code of Conduct published by the Board. Any breach of these Codes

shall be referred to the field placement Board of Examiners and may result in a

recommendation, through the Committee of Discipline or other appropriate Board,

for expulsion from the Course.

(6) (a) Students who, for health reasons, fail to attend for up to three

days of the field placement should present a medical certificate within 24 hours to the

coordinator of the field placement. The medical certificate, drawn up by a medical

doctor, should clearly state the ailment which is preventing the student from attending

school and should include the name, the signature, and the medical registration

number of the medical doctor.

(b) Where students are away from the Primary Education school

setting for up to three days for health reasons or for any other reason which the

Board considers valid, as well as in special circumstances for which prior approval

would have been given by the field placement Board of Examiners, they shall be

requested to make up for any missed teaching duties in accordance with instructions

issued by the coordinator of the field placement and the Head of Department of Early

Childhood and Primary Education.

(c) Students who fail to attend four days or more shall either be

required to repeat the whole field placement or, at the discretion of the Board, may be

required to carry out additional days of supervised practice during the same academic

year as directed by the Board.

(7) Students shall only be declared to have passed a field placement

by the field placement Board of Examiners. The academic and professional judgement

of the field placement Board of Examiners is not reviewable.

Classification of the Awards

(1) The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the

classification of the Degree followed on full-time basis shall be based on the results

obtained in the three years of the Course which shall be weighted as follows

First Year Average Mark

20%

Second Year Average Mark

30%

Third Year Average Mark

50%.

(2) The Final Weighted Average Mark for the classification of the

Degree followed on part-time basis shall be based on the results obtained in the five

years of the Course, all credits being weighted equally.

(3)

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the

classification of the Higher Diploma shall be based on the results obtained in each

year of the Course, all credits being weighted equally.

In the case of assigning the classification of First Class Honours,

the Degree Classification Board shall specifically consider the students’ record of

performance during the field placements.

The classification of the Degree and the Higher Diploma shall be

published according to the provisions of the Principal Regulations.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses

The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to

courses followed on a part-time basis, and subject to such changes as may reasonably

be deemed by the Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the Course.

€0.54