Education, Science and Technology

The employment of minors is a very sensitive issue concerning the child’s education and health and safety. The Law provides certain criteria that must be met prior to issuing a permit for the employment of minors.

Minors who have not yet completed compulsory schooling need a school exemption for work purposes. This mostly applies for students who are in Form 4 and who have an opportunity to work during summer or after school hours, or fifth Formers who want to work after school hours.

The School Psychological Service (SPS) helps in promoting a healthy psycho-educational environment that facilitates the learning and personal development of learners in schools. This is carried out through prevention initiatives as well as interventions on a personal, family and systemic level.

A child who is identified as having a significant hearing loss may be referred by the school to the service offered by the teachers for the hearing impaired.

If a child is identified as having a significant visual impairment that is not satisfactorily corrected by the wearing of spectacles, s/he can be referred by the school to the service.

This is a specialised service aimed to provide support to educators and schools where there are students who manifest challenging behaviour.

When a student utterly refuses to attend school or plays truant from school, the social worker can guide and assist parents and work with and support him/her.

Teachers teaching in compulsory education are requested by Law to be in possession of at least a temporary warrant.

After 2 years of practising the teaching profession, teachers who are in possession of a teaching qualification recognised by the Council for Teaching Profession (CTP) are requested to apply for a teacher's permanent warrant. Persons who are in possession of a Master's degree or a comparable degree and have registered for such qualification prior to 29 July 2008 can also apply. Persons who prior to the 29 July 2008 have practised the teaching profession for at least 8 years in a school on completion of 15 years teaching experience can apply for a permanent warrant.

The Training Course in the Methodology of the Nwar Literacy Programme is for educators who are interested in learning more about multisensory literacy strategies that may be utilised with learners who have learning difficulties. This is a 75-hour intensive course; however participants need to invest further hours in research and home assignments.