Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to produce graduates who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level such that they are prepared for advanced and specialised professional employment in the educational field. In this particular case, the focus is on early childhood education and the purpose is to support development in this crucial area of education.

Rationale

Since the dissolution of the former colleges of education, the area of childhood education in South Africa has been rather slow in developing. However, recently, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) with the support of the European Union (EU) initiated a nationwide programme that aims to strengthen the childhood education sector, and the domain of childhood education has been prioritised as an area of education that needs specialist knowledge and capacity.

The Masters in Education in Early Childhood Education is designed to bolster the capacity for research of childhood education and to produce researchers with up-to-date knowledge of the field. This qualification is by research and learners entering this qualification will have obtained Honours qualification in which they will have been exposed to the latest ideas and practices in early childhood education. The aim is that graduates from this qualification will generate new knowledge in the field which will bring about improvement in our provision of early childhood education. We expect that enrolment will be relatively small initially as we have only two academic staff with Doctoral level qualifications. However, enrolment will increase as we appoint new staff and as our staff complete their Doctoral studies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL will have a place in the selection of learners for the Masters and relevant experience will be taken into consideration. The experience will not replace the minimum requirement of an Honours (or Level 8 Bachelor's Degree), but could be used to support admissions in the case of a learner with a 50-60% pass.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for access to this qualification are

• Bachelor of Education Honours.

Or

• Bachelor of Education Honours in Early Childhood Development.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Education in a cognate field of specialisation.

This qualification consists of a Research module at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

1. Contributes to the development of knowledge at an advanced level.
2. Prepare learners for advanced and specialised professional employment.
3. Involve high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence.
4. Deal with complex issues, both systematically and creatively, making sound judgments, using data and information.
5. Communicate research outcomes clearly to specialists and non-specialists in the area of specialisation.
6. Relate knowledge to the resolution of complex problems.
7. Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Generate new knowledge through the research project.
• Demonstrate understanding of how new knowledge is generated, and be apply that understanding.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Develop high-level skills and advanced knowledge.
• Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge that prepares for specialised employment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Critically engage with relevant literature theories and practices in early childhood education.
• Develop your voice and become an independent researcher.
• Engage critically with the discipline and demonstrate intellectual independence.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Through the research project, learners will be exposed to complex situations that will require systematic and creative solutions.
• Analyse data collected from which conclusions are drawn.
• Demonstrate the capability to manage complex issues, of presenting argument and counter-argument, and arriving at a logical conclusion.
• Analyse and interpret data and draw conclusions that are supported by the data.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Present internal seminars at which their presentation skills will be developed.
• Develop their own written communication skills as they write drafts of the thesis.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate very well using academic discourse.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Analyse and interpret data in light of previous studies and existing information.
• Demonstrate the ability to address and answer complex problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Take full responsibility for planning town research and in this will gain experience in functioning independently.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of progress will be ongoing and based on the regular meetings between a learner and supervisor and the quarterly written reports.

For this qualification, the final assessment is based on the thesis. Assessment will include two examiners, one of whom will be an external and independent examiner.