EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSMENT OF COURSEWORK & PRACTICUM

Different modes of assessment have been built into the coursework. These include tests/practical tests, assignments, project work, progress ratings and examinations. Examinations will be held at the end of each semester. There are no supplementary examinations. No special examination will be held for trainee teachers who are not able to take any paper because of illness or other special reason. They will be allowed to take the examination only on the next occasion when it is conducted.

Trainee teachers must complete satisfactorily all the modules they are required to take before qualifying for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Secondary). Trainee teachers are responsible for ensuring that they register for all the modules and examinations necessary to fulfil the requirements of their course of study. Under normal circumstances, no candidate will be permitted to take more than two years to complete the programme of study and pass the examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

Grading System

Except for the Practicum, the following grading system is adopted:

A - Excellent
B - Very Good
C - Good
D - Pass
E - Marginal Fail
F - Fail

For the Practicum, the following grading system is used:

Dist - Distinction
Cr - Credit
P - Pass
F - Fail

No academic unit is earned for grades 'E' or 'F'. A trainee teacher is not permitted to offer a module that has a pre-requisite unless he has obtained a minimum of grade 'E' in the pre-requisite module.

A trainee teacher who obtains 'E' or 'F' for any module that is a pre-requisite for a higher level module must repeat the failed module on the next occasion it is offered.

A trainee teacher who obtains 'E' for a module but passes the higher level module for which it is a pre-requisite, will not be allowed to proceed to the next higher level of the module until he passes the basic pre-requisite module.

Each module attempted will be awarded a grade and recorded in the transcript. The grades for all attempts will appear in the transcript.

Academic Warning, Probation and Dismissal

(i) A trainee teacher will be given an academic warning if he obtains more than 40% but less than  50% of the total number of AUs he takes in a semester.

(ii) A trainee teacher will be placed on academic probation if:

a) he fails to restore himself to good standing in the consecutive semester following the issue of an academic warning, or

b) he obtains less than 40% of the total number of AUs he takes in a semester.

(iii) A trainee teacher will be refused re-admission to his course of study if he is placed on academic probation for two consecutive semesters and fails to restore himself to good standing in the following semester.

(iv) To be restored to good standing, a trainee teacher on academic warning or probation must obtain at least 50% of the total number of AUs he takes in the following semester.

(v) The rules on warning, probation and dismissal will also apply to a trainee teacher on leave of absence. The academic status of such a trainee teacher prior to his leave will be counted towards dismissal if he fails to restore himself to good standing when he resumes his study.

(vi) The processes are summarised in the table below:
 
SEMESTER
% OF TOTAL AUs OFFERED
ACADEMIC STATUS
Situation A    
Original semester
Between 40 and 49
Academic Warning
2nd consecutive semester
Less than 50
Academic Probation
3rd consecutive semester
Less than 50
Academic Probation
4th consecutive
Less than 50
Dismissal (Refused re-admission)
Situation B    
Original semester
Less than 40
Academic Probation
2nd consecutive semester
Less than 50
Academic Probation
3rd consecutive
Less than 50
Dismissal (Refused re-admission)


Talks, Seminars, Workshops and Other Activities

During the period of training, trainee teachers are expected not only to study diligently but also to participate actively in talks, seminars, workshops and other activities organised for them, such as the National Education programme and the Induction Seminar. These activities form an integral part of the programme.