UoC Faculty of Education is in the process of introducing an accredited new post-graduate diploma in primary education which offers CONTESSA as one course (it has already been accepted by the Senate and Council of the University of Colombo). This is a novelty at UoC, offering, for the first time, a degree for primary education.
The Professional Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is the mandatory professional qualification for the graduate teachers recognized by the Ministry of Education. The recruitment of graduate teachers at the primary level is on the rise, therefore this PGDE with the primary education specialization is the first to be offered in the country! The accreditation process of this degree programme is in its final stage.
| Semester | Module + Course |
Course Code | Credits | Number of hours (Direct F2F -DI- and/or online independent learning – IL) | Core / Optional |
Existing / New |
| I | Module1
Building Blocks of Primary Education |
PEC801 | 4 | 60 DI* hrs
140 IL** hrs |
Core | New |
| I | Module 2 Profession-
Specific competencies of Primary School Teachers |
PEC802 | 4 | 60 DI hrs
140 IL hrs |
Core | New |
| I | Module 3 Learner- Centered Primary Education | PEC803 | 4 | 60 DI hrs
140 IL hrs |
Core | New |
| I | Module 4 Pedagogic Approaches to Diversity, Heterogeneity, Special Needs | PEC804 | 4 | 60 DI hrs
140 IL hrs |
Core | New |
| II | Module 5 Digital Teaching + Learning | PEC805 | 4 | 60 DI hrs
140 IL hrs |
Core | New |
| II | Independent Study | EXE812 | 2 | 30 DI hrs
170 IL hrs |
Core | Existing |
| II | Teaching Practicum | TPE 813 | 4 | 45 hrs Workshop
355 hrs Teaching Practice*** |
Core | Existing |
*Direct hours (DI) include teaching and assessment with the involvement of the teacher
**Independent Learning (IL) hours include independent time spent estimated to be spent by learners for learning and assessment
*** Teaching Practicum includes University-based workshops, preparation/planning to teach and Classroom Teaching Practice in a school