STATUTE FOR THE MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

STATUTE FOR THE MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY

EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.18

STATUTE FOR THE MATRICULATION AND

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATIONS

3rd October, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE 349 of 2014, as amended by Legal Notices 413 of 2021

and 103 of 2023.

(1) The title of this Statute is the Statute for the

Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Examinations.

(2)

"Examinations" means various forms of assessment.

This statute shall be applicable from 2 June 2014 onwards.

(1) There shall be a Matriculation Examination held at two

levels: Advanced (AM) and Intermediate (IM), a Secondary

Educ ation Certificate (SEC ) Examination and a Secondary

Education Applied Certificate Examination (SEAC).

(2) In each year there shall be continuous assessment and two

sessions of the Examinations as specified in the syllabi and

learning and assessment programmes.

(3) The Examinations and continuous assessment shall be under

the control of a Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate

Examinations Board (MATSEC Board) appointed in terms of article 4

(2).

(1) The functions of the Matriculation and Secondary

Education Certificate Examinations Board shall be

(i)

to make recommendations to Senate regarding

regulations required for the proper conduct of the

Examinations and continuous assessment;

(ii) to conduct the Examinations and

continuous

assessment in accordance with the

regulations

approved by Senate;

(iii) to make recommendations to Senate regarding

syllabuses and learning and assessment programmes

which would be prepared after consultation with

curriculum experts from the schools, the Directorates

of Education, the University of Malta (UM), the Malta

College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST)

and the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS), as

appropriate;

(iv)

to make recommendations to Senate regarding the

appointment of syllabus and learning and assessment

programme panels, paper setters’ panels, markers’

panels and external and standards verifiers, as

appropriate;

STATUTE FOR THE MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY

EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

(v) to make recommendations to Senate on all matters

related to assessment and examinations and on

relevant matters referred to it; and

(vi) to make recommendations to Council regarding

resources so that the MATSEC Board shall execute all

its functions.

(2)

The Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate

Examinations Board (the “Board”) shall consist of twelve members

and a chair as follows

(i)

a Chair (the Rector or nominated deputy);

(ii) three members of the academic staff appointed by the

Senate of the University;

(iii) one member appointed by the Council of Institutes of

MCAST;

(iv) one member appointed by the Institute for Tourism

Studies;

(v) two members from the Directorates of Education

appointed by the Minister responsible for education;

(vi) one member nominated by, and from, the membership

of the Church Schools Association;

(vii) one member nominated by, and from, the membership

of the Independent Schools Association;

(viii) one representative from the trade union representing

the largest number of teachers duly warranted by the

Council for the Teaching Profession (as it may be

reconstituted from time to time) in terms of the

applicable law;

(ix) the Executive Director of MATSEC; and

(x) the Registrar.

(3) The Secretary of the Board shall be the Registrar or

nominated deputy.

(4) The number of members required to form a quorum shall

be seven. All Board members shall have the power to deliberate

and decide on any matter brought before the Board in accordance

with its remit hereunder. In the absence of unanimous approval by

the Board members on any matter on which it deliberates, decisions

may be validly taken if supported by a minimum of fifty percent

plus one of all Board members present at any board meeting,

subject to quorum.

(5) The Vice-Chair shall be the Executive Director of

MATSEC.

(6) Members shall be appointed for a term of three years,

which may be renewed.

Regulations made by Senate for the examinations leading to the

Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificates and the syllabi or

learning and assessment programmes for each subject shall normally be

published each year. Advanced and Intermediate Level syllabi shall

STATUTE FOR THE MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY

EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

normally be published two years in advance of the final assessment.

SEC and SEAC syllabi and learning and assessment programmes shall

normally be published three years in advance of the final assessment.

Expressly notwithstanding Articles 2.2 (a) and (c) of Statute 6 –

the Principal and Other Officers of the University (Schedule 2 of the

Education Act – Cap. 327), certification attesting to the performance of

candidates in examinations leading to the Matriculation and Secondary

Education Certificates shall bear the signature of the Executive Director

of MATSEC.