PPQRTHE ICELAND –

MALTA EXPERIENCE

31st August – 2nd September 2006

University of Education, Iceland

The participants Sólrún Björg

Kristinsdóttir – University of Education, Iceland

Michelle Attard Tonna – University of Malta

Main issues of workshop

Teacher Education and Training:

1.1 Pre-service Education1.2 In-service Education1.3 Distance Education

1.1 Pre-service Education in Malta

The university of Malta has full responsibility Department of Primary Education offering

specialisation in early and middle years A range of subject specialisation for the

secondary sector Core areas and teaching practice in both options

Pre-service education in Iceland

Various institutions offer this initial training course

Duration of five years Wide spectrum of subjects to choose from Early childhood is offered as one of the optional

subjects

Teaching practice

In Malta student-teachers have full responsibility of class under their care

In Iceland, teachers of the actual class are present to mentor the student-teachers

Both countries allocate considerable importance to teaching practice

A visit to Háteigsskóli school

1.2 In-service Education

In Iceland Related to teacher’s

contract Professional

development needs identified through appraisal interview

In-service policy for each school

In Malta Compulsory by

collective agreement Three working days

each scholastic year A large number of

teachers trained at the same time

Increasing number of schools organising in-house courses

In-service Education

In Iceland Professional

development of teacher must relate to school development policy

Obligation of 150 hours of training annually

Outsourcing provides schools with range of courses

Various other training opportunities available

Workshops, conferences and European programmes

Main people responsible for setting up INSET are Education Officers employed with the Education Division

1.3 Distance Education In Iceland, this has

been going on for a number of years

Very popular with students of a specific profile

Range of courses available – general education, preparation for academic studies, vocational education

Distance Education

Teachers specifically trained for distance education

Mechanics of IT softwarePedagogical issuesCourses require students to sit

for an exam

Distance Education In Malta, an e-learning

strategy and action plan on a nation-wide scale is being devised

National programmes of teacher training in ICT

A national effort to increase access to IT across all areas of society

The Education Division does not offer distance learning

Distance Education

Distance learning is mostly sourced by foreign universities/institutions

The courses offered lead to certificates, diplomas and degrees and many Maltese students choose to undertake this alternative

Distant courses are evaluated and accredited by the Malta National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)