This programme of study for the award of the Master of Arts in Teacher Education Degree is offered by the Department of Secondary & Tertiary Education in collaboration with the Department of Language Studies of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science of the Faculty of Natural Sciences. It is a 54 credit programme consisting of course work only.  In addition students are required to complete continuing education courses of 15 credits.  The minimum duration of the programme is one academic year of 18 months consisting of three semesters.

The general aim of the proposed programme is enhancement of professional competencies of personnel engaged in the education of teachers. It seeks to attain this aim through the accomplishment of following specific objectives.

1. Provide a comprehensive knowledge on theoretical and practical aspects of contemporary teacher education.
2. Create an awareness on current proposals for reform of the national system of education and their implications for teachers and teacher educators.
3. Update subject matter knowledge in the academic subjects taught by teacher educators.
4. Provide a basic knowledge in information technology with a focus on the use of computer based multi media system in the teaching learning process.
5. Enable teacher educators to gain a basic competency in English Language and Information Technology as tools for keeping abreast of developing knowledge.
6. Provide an opportunity to gain an understanding of important current issues of national and global concern in the field of teacher education.

The target group for which the programme is particularly intended consists mainly of teacher educators, serving in institutions under the Ministry of Education and  Faculties/Departments of Education in Universities.

The minimum requirement for admission to the Master of Arts in Teacher Education Degree   Programme will be as follows.

• Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from a recognized University, or
• Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree and the Post Graduate Diploma in Education from a recognized University, or
• Secured any equivalent or higher qualification acceptable to the Senate  and
• Should be serving at present / Have served as a 

1. Academic staff member of recognized university or
2. Lecturer of a National College of Education or
3. Lecturer of a Teacher Training College or
4. In-service Teacher Advisor of a Teaching Centre/Ministry of Education/ A Provincial Ministry of Education or
5. Officer engaged in Teacher Education in the National Institute of Education or
6. Principal of a Government / Government approved school

• Priority will be given to those who are currently serving in the above posts.
• All selected applicants should sit a Grading Test in English which will be held at Colombo Regional Centre.
• Selection of candidates of the programme shall be done either by a written test or an interview.

In order to be registered for the degree of Master of Arts in Teacher Education a student should satisfy the council with the admission requirements stated above

A student who registers for the M.A in Teacher Education Degree programme will normally be expected to complete the programme within 5 years of registration.  However, the minimum registration period would be 1½  years.

Registration fees and course fees should be paid by the candidate.  Normally a candidate is allowed to pay this amount in two installments at the registration of the programme. 

When applications are called for registration for the programme the prospective candidates may apply for the programme adhering to the instructions given there in.

The programme will be offered in 3 semesters.  Details regarding the courses are set out below.

SCHEDULE 1- CURRICULUM

Only for candidates who score less than 19 marks at the English language grading test.

PC   = Professional Courses        SC = Support Courses          CEC = Continuing Education Courses

SCHEDULE 2  - Pre-Requisites

Course Code     Pre-requisites

LSE 1304          Between 20-49 marks at the English Language  Grading Test   or
                       A pass in LSE 0103   -   Beginners Course in English

SCHEDULE 3- Exemptions
Candidates who score 50 or more marks at the English Language Grading Test shall be exempted from the continuing Education course, LSE 1304.

Scheme of Assessment
Final assessment for the award of the M.A. in Teacher Education Degree will be based on continuous assessment and final-examination.

Continuous Assessment for courses
Continuous assessment is based on assignments. A student will present 3 assignments for each professional courses. Out of the three the best two will be taken into consideration in calculating the continuous assessment score for the respective course for the purpose of determining eligibility.

Final examination

The Final examination will be a written test conducted at the end of the each part of the programme consisting of a 3 hour paper in the respect professional and 2 hour paper in the respect of support and continuing Education course.

The weightage given to continuous assessment and final examination on calculation of the final score will be as follows:                       

Continuous Assessment              30%                       
Final Examination                       70%

Exemptions

Exemptions may be granted in accordance with limits specified in the Regulations, and rules for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Teacher Education.

Medium of Instruction

This programme of study is available in Sinhala, English  and Tamil media.

Award of the M.A. in Teacher Education Degree 

• The M.A. in Teacher Education Degree will be awarded to candidates who successfully complete all the credit requirements at the final written examination.

• A student shall be awarded the degree if he /she has obtained 3 5/6 credits in the required courses.

Postponement of the Programme/Courses

You are not allowed to postpone the whole Programmer of the study. The period during which you are allowed to postpone the courses for which you registered end in three (3) months from the date of registration. This date would not be extended for whatever reason. Howerer, you are required to keep registration for courses to the value of 1/2 a credit.

Withdrawal from the Programme

You are allowed to withdraw from the programme, You are registered for, within one month of the date of registration, subject to a 10% fee.

Programme Coordinators:

Mrs.Samanthi Jayasinghe / Mr.T.Thanaraj (Tamil medium)