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Qualifications required to lecture in Maths at Mcast

Mcast is projecting itself as an institution of tertiary education with ambitions to confer degrees.

However, in a recent call for applications for posts of Mathematics lecturers, the main requirement at the top of the list was a “B.Ed. (Hons.) degree in Mathematics”.

The call did make a concession for “holders of other degrees specialising in Mathematics… but possession of the PGCE will be considered an asset”. This gives the incorrect impression that the B.Ed. “in Mathematics” is a degree specialising in Mathematics.

I cannot understand how Mcast intends to offer degree courses while employing lecturers who do not even have a first degree in the subject they teach.

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Alexander Farrugia

Nov 7th 2010, 19:21

I happen to have a Masters degree in Mathematics, and teach Mathematics at MCAST, and have been for the past 7 years. I also had the opportunity to do a pedagogy course in vocational education.

I won't speak about my abilities as a lecturer, since it would be presumptuous and haughty of me to do so; all I will say is that my students enjoy themselves in my class, and the feedback I receive from them is that they're disappointed if and when I don't teach them in a subsequent year. Even though this 'certificate' was given to me by my own students, I think that nobody can judge my teaching prowess better than them.

Because of this, I respectfully beg to differ from your opinion that I "hardly know how to teach".

As an aside, you might like to be informed that MCAST also provides teacher training courses and qualifications to its staff that does not possess such a qualification.

josef lauri

Nov 8th 2010, 11:29

So let me see if I understand Mr Muscat well. Somebody who is a "real" mathematician should not be allowed to teach at an institution like MCAST, especially if it is applied mathematics which they will be teaching. In fact MCAST authorities should make sure that no "real" mathematicians teach there. Am I getting it right?

Oh, by the way, I did not say anything against MCAST lecturers having a PGCE, but only against their not having a maths degree. One does not imply the other. But oops, this is logic, and logic is only for those "real" mathematicians who should be locked up inside universities for the good of society.

But I must rush. I have a lecture soon and, after the success "real" mathematicians have had at messing up the world's financial system, I must teach my students some new trick to cause a social disaster.

Pule' Carmel

Nov 7th 2010, 13:01

*As long as there exist “Educational Administrators with only a General Educational background” and selected “Selecting Boards” who do not know the difference between, a person highly qualified in “General Education” and a person highly qualified in “Specialised Core Subject” any quality assurance in Higher Education has no meaning as it will always be the person with “A General Education” who will be recognised by “Educators.” This has caused an inbreeding effect and so measurements or standards tend to finish up as relative and not "absolute"! The result is that we tend to retain the titles but not the substance.
This is like a Manager being regarded as capable of leading anything.
Or a Priest being able to advice on any moral subject.
Or a Teacher being able to teach on any subject.
Or a Lawyer being able to understand any law.
Or a Nurse being able to serve in any operating theatre.
Or a politician being able to lead any Ministry.
These General Titles depicting a Service rather than the real detail of a CORE subject are being used as loopholes so that the less qualified people in the CORE subjects get in where they should not.

E.Muscat

Nov 7th 2010, 14:10

How right you are,Dr.Pule'! I remember distinctly a 'pure' maths lecturer at the old MCAST who gave us engineering students, a course in statistics:he had in front of him at least 3 very good engineering brains (one of whom was Profs.Ghirlando):he managed his contempt of us by talking to the blackboard and teaching us nothing:what a waste, since I had to re-study statistics on my own, later! Thankfully he emigrated to Australia where his mathematical talents could be better appreciated!
Real 'useful' mathematicians are sometimes self taught mathematicians like the legendary Mr.Frisk who used to teach maths at the old Hamrun Lyceum in the sixties and seventies:God rest his soul!

Pule' Carmel

Nov 7th 2010, 16:39

I know many teachers who are also " self taught " like my uncle who was a masterboat tbuilder and my own mother who in addition to being a good natural mother she was also an excellent natural teacher. So perhaps we should take your suggestion that since " Real useful mathematicians are sometines self taught.... " and apply this to all subjects, for that is the case, and so we should just close all our educational facilities and rely on self taught teachers! It was like that in the old days!
I do believe that there is another option and that is " a teacher can be good in those required talents to transfer knowledge to others and also a specialist in the core subject he teaches"
This is the reason why all faculties at the University should work together more closely. To teach at degree level, one needs more than the core subjects one finds at secondary schools.

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