Teacher education evolved a lot over the years, keeping in line with latest trends in the field. The Teacher’s Diploma Secondary provided professional development opportunity to a large mass of people with ‘A’ level as the basic qualification working in secondary schools. This was one of the first career progression path for many who had joined the teaching profession in secondary schools in the late 1960s and after. At that point in time only a privileged few people could afford to study abroad as the University of Mauritius did not offer graduate courses in academic subjects taught in secondary schools. MIE was, in fact, the first institution to offer opportunity for professionalization as well as a career path for people holding only an ‘O’ or ‘A’ level who would not have otherwise aspired for an ascending career opportunity. In fact, the MIE helped to break the dead-end that the teaching profession was at that point, especially for women with secondary school education who had obtained the opportunity to enter the labour force, but who, compared to their male counterparts, had little opportunity for study abroad.
Secondary education become free in 1976 and this created the need for more trained teachers and as there was an expansion of opportunities in the education sector. There was a need for trained teachers as Mauritius was fast entering into its second phase of economic development. It needed professional teachers to help upgrade the quality of education offered in the country.
The MIE embarked on the provision of graduate degree in 1991 with the first B.Ed programme offered to holders of the Teacher’s Diploma. The degree was awarded by the University of Mauritius as MIE did not have a degree awarding status. However, as the University of Mauritius had no Faculty of Education, the MIE was mentored by the University of Nottingham, UK. Several staff members of the MIE obtained the opportunity for short term attachment for professional development over a number of years at the University of Nottingham. It is noteworthy that many teachers aspiring to a professional progression, more so a number of women folks benefitted from the B.Ed degrees. In the process, MIE provided a number of professionally trained personnel who assumed key roles in the secondary schooling on as educators as well as Heads of Schools.
In order to offer more career opportunity in the education sector, the MIE also embarked on a full time Teacher’s Diploma followed by B.Ed degrees as from 2010 This degree was awarded by the University of Technology. It is noteworthy that the Universities in Mauritius do not have a Faculty of Education, and have been acting merely as the awarding bodies, while the courses have been developed, taught and assessed by the MIE. External moderation has been carried out through engagement of academics at Professorial level from external universities from diverse countries, including UK, India, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Reunion Island. Our External Examiners
As a Degree Awarding Institution, MIE will hence be the awarding body for all its training programmes, including Degree programmes.
The MIE continued to evolve and offered more professional development courses as the education system was evolving and people already in service needed further professional development opportunities. In 1993 MIE was approached by the University of Brighton (UoB) and together MIE and UoB offered the MA Education programme. This was carried out under a link programme sponsored by the British Council. Since 1995, till date MIE has produced over 200 holders of MA Education degree in association with the UoB, UK The MA Education with specialisation in Educational Leadership was constructed along the guidelines of the PRB 2013 and it has benefitted a number of Educators and professionals in key positions in education, in supervisory roles and well as in decision making positions who are alumni of MIE-UoB.
Other advanced programmes developed by MIE
MIE has been in the forefront of change and development for the advancement of professionals in education. In 2010, the MIE started a Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Educational Leadership as a means to fast track the professional development of Deputy Rectors and Rectors in secondary schools. This programme was accredited by the Middlesex University, UK which offered a top up MA degree to holders of the PGDip.
In 2016, a new Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) programme was accredited by the University of Brighton, UK. The PGDip offered by MIE is now a route to the UoB Master in Education. As a result MIE has been able to offer opportunity for Master’s degree of the University of Brighton (UoB) with a less costly option. To date there are about 20 persons registered for the PGDIp.
The MIE started Doctoral programmes as from 2013. The association with foreign universities have been highly instrumental in developing professional expertise of a number of academic staff. MIE offers an EdD programme along with the University of Brighton (UoB), UK.
The MIE also offers a PhD programme in association with the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The registered students on the doctoral programmes include staff of the Ministry of Education, University of Mauritius, the Open University and the MITD
Professional courses offered by the MIE
In a bid to rationalise the teacher education role of MIE, the Teacher Training College was closed down and MIE has since 1985 assumed the responsibility for the professional development of all teachers and other cadres of the primary sector. The Teacher’s Certificate programme was offered until 2003. Thereafter, a Teacher’s Diploma was offered to all trainees of the primary sector. In 2014, the PRB acknowledge the effort of the MIE to professionalise the teachers in the primary sector at par with those of the secondary sector and proposed to offer a salary scale for the primary school educators at par with the secondary Educators, a major achievement for the primary school educators, which was approved by government.
Other training programmes include the Diploma in Educational Supervision and Inspection for the inspector cadre of the Ministry.
The MIE also provided upgrading opportunities to all holders of Teacher’s Certificate with the advent of the Advance Certificate in Education and the Teacher’ Diploma for in-service teachers of the primary sectors so that there is now an all Diploma workforce in the primary sector.
At present MIE has developed a Degree programme for Primary school Educators, holders of Teacher’s Diploma, in line with the recommendation of the Pay Research Byreau, to be offered on a blended mode.
Training of New Grades of teaching personnel
In the context of the Nine Year Continuous Basic Education (NYCBE), the MIE has developed new programmes for the training of Support Teachers and Holistic Education. The former are provided with a Certificate programme in Remedial Education and are trained to work as Support Teachers in primary schools, while the latter are offered a Teacher’s Diploma and are trained to teach the non-core subjects, including Performing Arts, Health and Physical Education, Citizenship Education and Lifeskills.
The Support Teachers are empowered to ensure that the problem of failure in primary schools is tackled right from the early years of primary schooling. They offer support to the class teacher to tackle the problem of low achieving children in the early years. Today a number of low achieving primary schools benefit from such support.
The pre -primary sector was a largely unregulated sector until the mid-1990s. The MIE was called upon to assume responsibility for the professional development of the pre-primary sector as well. It had to offer bridging courses for those already in the sector, followed by Teacher’s Certificate and Teacher’s Diploma Programmes for Pre-Primary teachers. The MIE also offers professional development programmes for managers in the pre-primary sector.
Special Education Needs
Another sector where MIE developed more specialised skills is the Special Education Needs (SEN) sector. In order to professionalise the sector MIE embarked in a Post Graduate Diploma in Inclusion and Special Needs for its own personnel and the Psychologists of the Ministry of Education. This programme was offered with the support with expertise from India and Germany. Subsequently MIE has developed a number of programmes for the professional development in the SEN sector- This includes a Proficiency course for those offering support in the sector, Certificate programme followed by a Diploma programme for those teaching in the sector.