Division of Teacher Education (DTE)
General Policies
Admissions
- ADE Early Childhood Education
- ADE Primary Education
- ADE Secondary Education
- ADE Technical and Vocational Education
- Certificate Early Childhood Care and Development *NEW*
- English A
- Mathematics
- Social Studies or History or Geography
- Science – Integrated Science or Agriculture Science or Pure Science
- One (1) additional subject
- “A” level, or CAPE – 2 Units or an Associate Degree in the specialist subject (Major)
- At least CSEC grade 1 or equivalent in the Minor
- Possess some CSEC/ GCSE subjects (A passing grade in English and/or Mathematics at CSEC/ GCSE is NOT required)
- Working in an ECCD centre
Candidates over the age of 30 years seeking admission into a programme and who do not have the academic qualifications set out in the requirements above but who have completed at least 5 years of teaching in one or more recognized schools must establish clear evidence of their competence in the field. As a result applicants will undergo an assessment from a selection of the following processes:
- Observation/assessment on the job by a team constituted of the JBTE which will conduct the exercise using an approved observation/assessment schedule.
- Submission of a portfolio which documents competence/accomplishments in the following ways:
- Representative sample of work (where applicable) over the three-year period immediately preceding application.
- Written 500 word account of life history and a vision of their role in education.
- Documentation to substantiate certificates/awards obtained in the informal setting, e.g., on-the-job courses.
- Recommendations from professional educator(s) and person(s) who have supervised him/her in his/her area of competence.
- Examinations to assess learning potential which should include the assessment of candidates’ proficiency in Numeracy and English, unless candidates have approved qualifications in these subjects and/or at least 2 subjects attained through a formal examination system.
The assessment of students for mature entry should take place during the regular college recruitment period.
Students admitted under this clause cannot normally be given advance placement or any exemptions. However, in the case of applications in practical areas, where there is clear evidence of qualifications which merit exemptions from content area courses, application can be made for consideration to be given.
Examination
If a candidate has failed the subject at the first attempt and later in two trials in five years, he/she should re-do the entire programme. However, exemption with credit may be granted for all courses for which the student previously earned a grade of B or higher.
The “forgiveness” system will be replaced so that having to repeat courses will be reflected in the students’ GPA.
- Students who fail a course or any component of a course and must re-sit the course or a component of a course will, on the first re-sit (constituting their second attempt to pass), be awarded a grade on level below what was actually awarded. An exception will be made if the actual grade awarded is a minimum passing grade (C).
- Students who are re-sitting a course or a component of the course for a second time (constituting their third attempt to pass) and pass, can only be awarded the minimum passing grade of C. A grade of “C” will not be lowered.
- This revision to the grading system will take effect from September 2019.