The modular system

Some of the universities have introduced to all their courses a credit-based modular system. Currently, the total lecture hours of all classes are standardized as multiples of the basic unit of around 24 hours of formal instruction. In each year there is a range of compulsory and elective(optional) classes each with its own credit rating. To proceed from one year to the next, students have to obtain a certain minimum total of credits, these normally include certain compulsory classes and a proportion of electives. The system has two significant advantages from the student point of view. Firstly, it permits greater flexibility of course content, since students have relatively greater freedom to pick the selection of classes most suited to their interests and ambitions than under the old system where study patterns were rigidly prescribed. Secondly, flexibility also makes changing from one degree course to another easier than before. If, foe example, students find in the end of their first year that their interests have been reoriented, they can continue in their second year on a different degree course, provided the new programme selected can accept at least in part the credits already gained.

First degree courses

First degrees are the first degree students can take after leaving school, unlike a higher degree or masters degree. They are also called undergraduate courses.

Arts, social science and pure science degrees normally last three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland because they are designed to follow a very specialized school-leaving qualification. In Scotland, they take four years because Scottish students do a less specialized school-leaving examination. In addition, some courses in business studies, engineering, science and technology are one year longer to allow students to undertake practical training. These are known as sandwich courses and include periods of work experience in industry and commerce.

Courses such as medicine, dentistry and architecture can take up to seven years to complete. University graduate will then leave with his first degree of Bachelor of Arts(BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), for instance, BA in History, in Geography; BSc in Applied Physics, in analytical Chemistry; Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Law (LLB). In addition to BA, BSc…. Pass degree some students may try to qualify to BA, BSc degrees with Honours. To enter Honours study, student must have qualified with a Pass Degree and then they spend an additional year studying at advanced level courses for Single Honours in the chosen subject or Joint Honours where there are extensive subject combinations.

OTHER COURSES

There is second higher educational qualifications in Britain, known as the Higher national Diploma or HND. It lasts a year less than a degree course- either two years full time or three as sandwich course. HND's are vocational (or job related), so they are not found in purely academic subjects such as history or philosophy. They are available in, for example, science subjects, engineering, business studies, hospitality and tourist management.

Part 3. TEACHER TRAINING

Teachers seeking a career in publicity aided schools must be proved as «qualified». Almost all entrants to teaching in maintained and special schools in England and Wales complete a recognized course of initial teacher training to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Such courses are offered b u university departments of education as well as by many colleges of education. Teacher training colleges are commonly small, isolated institutions with low numbers of students. Some colleges are provided by local education authorities and others by voluntary organizations usually connected with a religious denomination. The colleges vary widely in the courses they offers; some students specialize in primary school work, while others specialize in a particular subject.

Primary teachers have overall responsibility for the welfare of their classes and also for teaching the youngest pupils all areas of the curriculum. It follows that institutions selecting candidates look not only at the students' academic subjects in relation to the primary curriculum, but also at a candidate's personal qualities and experience. All primary courses give students a full grounding in every area of the curriculum. Students on secondary teaching courses normally choose which particular academic subjects they wish to teach. Most of them specialize in two subjects. At interview, selectors look for a sense of responsibility, a robust and balanced outlook, awareness, sensitivity, enthusiasm and good communication skills.

Non-graduates usually qualify by taking a four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) honours degree leading to QTS , but if a person already holds a degree in the subject he wishes to teach, he normally takes a one-year Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). Teachers of academic subjects at secondary schools must hold a degree containing two passes in the subject which they wish to teach. PGCE courses concentrate on developing professional teaching skills and relating your subject to classroom teaching.

The scheme of study work at colleges of education is based upon compulsory and optional subjects. Principles and Practice of Teaching, Religious Instructions, Physical Education and Health Education are compulsory subjects. Lectures in these subjects are supplemented by tutorials. English, History, Handwork, Mathematics, Music are optional. Out of these a student chooses one or two specializing in them. All full-time students spend twelve weeks on teaching practice in schools, chosen according to the all-range of children for which the students are being trained.

The government is taking steps to improve the quality of teaching by revising selection, training and placement procedures for new teachers, and by making available more in-service training opportunities. Measures taken to strengthen initial teacher training have included the issuing of criteria which courses must meet and the establishment of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education to review courses against the criteria.