Terms & Conditions

THE DIRECTORATE FOR RESEARCH, LIFELONG LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY

REGISTRATION RIGHTS 

Kindly note the following Terms & Conditions:

• Registration payment (where applicable) is indicated for each course in each Course Group section.

• For a class to be formed, a minimum number of students must register. In most cases, this minimum is 10. This minimum number may be changed due to public health directives.

• The Director for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability reserves the right to change this minimum number of applicants based on the course subject’s importance.

• Classes having fewer students throughout the year may be closed and those students shall be offered the opportunity to join another class so that a sustainable service is ensured.

• Applicants are registered according to the date and time received on the online system. Applicants applying and paying online ensure immediate registration.

• Individuals from foreign countries are to present their legal documentation concerning their permission to reside in Malta. One may not request a visa for a long stay in Malta on the pretext of applying for any of the courses offered by the Directorate. Persons who do not reside in Malta are not eligible to apply for any course. Proof of residency may be requested.

COURSE FEES

All courses are open to all citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo.

Applicants are to pay the following fees:

• Short Courses up to a maximum of 14 weeks, including online courses €18.63

• Courses longer than 14 weeks up to 32 weeks, including online courses €34.94

• Courses that lead to the Intermediate Level and/or Advanced or MQF Level 4, ICDL Workforce and Courses related to Information Technology €46.59

• Courses offered at the Msida Lifelong Learning Centre held in the morning, except ICDL Workforce €11.65

There shall be no changes to the registration of any course after payment is made, except when courses are cancelled by the Directorate.

EXEMPTION FROM COURSE FEES

The following persons are exempted from payment:

• Applicants who apply for the Introductory Courses in Maltese, English and Mathematics, Media and Financial Literacy courses, who qualify under (a), (b), (c), (d) under the above subtitle ‘Course Fees’.

• Applicants in possession of the Senior Citizens Card (Kartanzjan) are exempted from payment for the first course. However, course fees are to be paid for all subsequent courses applied for during the learning year 2022-2023.

Applicants who, due to social reasons, declare that they require financial support for the course fee, are to provide a signed cover letter from a relevant institution (e.g.: social security office, AWWAS, etc) and submit the course application by applying in person. A form will be filled in accordingly and presented to the appropriate Board within the Ministry for Education, Youth, Sport, Research and Innovation. The cover letter will be verified and approved by the Board, after consultation with the Directorate. Applicants who feel they are entitled to payment exemption require approval of exemption issued by the Board.

This exemption is obtained prior to the course commencement, in the absence of which payment shall be required. If the exemption is received after the payment is made, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund. Applicants are to apply personally for this exemption at the said appropriate Board.

REFUND OF COURSE FEES

No refund will be granted except when changes to the availability of courses are made directly by the Directorate.

A course may be withdrawn or terminated, at the discretion of the Director, in which case the applicants are entitled to a full or pro-rata refund, if applicants will not be the sole cause for the termination of the course in question.

MININUM AGE FOR REGISTRATION

Applicants must be fifteen (15) years or over, unless otherwise stated in certain specific courses. Applicants having reached age 15 are required to obtain consent from their parent/legal guardian before applying for a course. To this effect a consent form duly completed and signed by the parent/legal guardian on behalf of the minor, must be presented to the class educator on the first day of the course. Applicants who do not produce this consent form shall not be admitted to the course. This form can be downloaded from the Directorate’s website: lifelonglearning.gov.mt.

Transport to and from the course venue of the fifteen (15) year old students shall be at the charge and responsibility of the minor’s parent/legal guardian. Important Note: The registration/application for the course should contain the details of the student and not those of the parent/legal guardian.

CALENDAR

Most courses start at the beginning of October 2022 and finish towards the end of May 2023. Further details regarding specific courses are indicated in the schedules of this information prospectus and online.

No lessons are held on public holidays and on scholastic year holidays. Scholastic year holidays are:

31st October 2022

1st & 2nd November 2022

8th December 2022

13th December 2022

23rd December 2022 – 8th January 2023

10th February 2023

20th & 21st February 2023

31st March 2023

5th – 15th April 2023

1st May 2023

As Adult Learning Centres are hosted within State schools, lessons may be postponed if such a school has an activity that will be held after normal school hours, or if the school is closed due to a particular reason.

COURSE LEVELS, CERTIFICATES AND QUALIFICATIONS

It is important that learners choose the appropriate courses and levels that fit their needs and abilities. The DRLLE staff including educators and coordinators may indicate that a learner is in the incorrect class level and requires to be in a lower or higher level or a different course. In such cases the learner will be guided to start attending an appropriate course or class level. It is recommended that participants apply for a course level higher than that already obtained in the same subject.

A letter of attendance can only be issued to learners who attend at least 80% of the lessons. A letter of attendance does not imply that the students have been formally assessed and is issued only to learners who choose not to formally follow the assessment or in the case of non-accredited courses. In the case of accredited courses which have a formal assessment, only learners who attend at least 80% of the course lessons are eligible to be formally assessed. Learners not eligible for a letter of attendance may request a letter by the Directorate indicating the number/percentage of course lessons they attended. This letter can be requested within one year from the end of the course and cannot be requested for the approval of temporary or permanent residency. Learners are to send an email with their request at least two weeks in advance, stating the reason for such a request.

The Directorate offers various course levels including:

• Introductory Level

These courses target students with difficulties in literacy, numeracy and digital skills. The main language of instruction for these courses is Maltese.

• MQF Level 1, MQF Level 2 and MQF Level 3 Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) courses

These courses have been accredited by the Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). The accreditation process is on-going for a number of courses. These will not necessarily be accredited within this learning year. However, the levels are included as an indication of the level one can expect to reach through these courses.

• MATSEC     

This refers to the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), also known as the ‘O’ Level, Intermediate Level and Advanced Level Courses. The Directorate offers revision courses for MATSEC. Students who register for these courses are expected to have already reached the required level in the relevant subject.         

• Other Levels

These courses such as ICDL (MQF 3 and MQF 4) and Electrical Installation (Licence A) that prepare participants for other examining bodies.

• Open Classes

Open class sessions are not meant to deliver formal learning but are intended for students who have already acquired substantial knowledge and skills in the particular craft and would like to further their competencies through the pooling of knowledge with other students in the same craft. A letter of attendance may be requested from the Directorate by not later than one year from the completion of the course.

ONLINE SYNCRHONOUS

Learners who apply for online courses will be using the Microsoft Teams portal. Each learner will have an email address and password generated.

• Learners attending online courses should keep their camera on at all times for sufficient participation.

• Recordings of all sessions will take place to help learners in their learning, however these cannot replace the actual online session. Each learner must attend 80% of sessions to be able to follow formal assessment and receive a certificate of achievement. An 80% attendance is also required for a letter of attendance.

• Online courses may also have a face-to-face component in the form of a physical work shop/s during the learning year.

• Learners who are absent for three consecutive lessons without any prior written justification sent to the educator, will be removed from the Microsoft Teams Class. Learners will not be allowed to follow recordings.

• Any misuse of session recordings will be prosecuted.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance to course sessions is of utmost importance to the learning process. It is strongly advised that applicants, who do not wish or cannot start attending the course, to inform immediately the Directorate by sending an email to the educator so that the course will be offered to an eligible applicant on the waiting list.

FACILITIES

Our Learning Centres are hosted within State schools used for mainstream education in the morning. The Directorate also delivers courses in collaboration with Local Councils and NGOs in other venues.

Participants are to take good care of the classrooms, laboratories and other facilities in the Learning Centres. The Centres are to be kept clean at all times. Smoking is prohibited at all Centres.

The Directorate shall not be held responsible for the maintenance of Centres/schools that do not fall directly under its remit.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

Your suggestions and complaints matter to us. Each Learning Centre has a coordinator assigned to it. If you notice any problems at the Centre or difficulties with your course, and you would like to file a complaint or make suggestions, kindly speak directly to your coordinator, or send an email to: lifelonglearning@gov.mt

• Courses leading to SEC, Intermediate or Advanced Level are revision courses and hence, the syllabus is covered at a rather fast pace.

• Once your registration is accepted, you will need to follow the rules and procedures issued from time to time by the Directorate. The DRLLE adopts a policy of zero tolerance towards any form of discrimination and disrespect. Learners who disrupt the class in any way due to inappropriate behaviour or show disrespect towards both educators and learners in class shall not be tolerated and will be dismissed from the course.

• Participants found attending a course without having paid (where applicable), shall be asked to resign immediately.

• The Directorate does not assume responsibility if an adult educator terminates his or her service, but the Directorate will take all the necessary measures to find a replacement educator. If the latter is not possible, the learners will be merged with another class of the same subject and level.

• Applicants can only apply for one course level in a particular subject.

• The languages of instruction in all DRLLE classes are both in Maltese and/or English. In foreign Language Classes, Conversation classes, the Language of instruction shall also be in that other Language.

• Adult educators are allocated to different courses by the Directorate. Applicants must note that they are applying for a particular subject and not to be placed in a class with a particular educator.

• Adult educators may ask for your personal contact details, such as a mobile number, so that you can be notified as soon as possible should a lesson be postponed due to an emergency. It shall be at the participants’ discretion whether to give or not such information.

• Concerning health and safety provisions, educators may also ask you to provide information regarding next of kin or medical conditions. It shall be at the participants’ discretion whether to give or not such information.

• Every effort will be made to give precise information about each course. However, the Directorate is not to be held responsible for any errors or missing information.

• Courses leading to official SEC and MATSEC examinations, will come to an end on the date of the examination.

• Particular situations not highlighted in this prospectus may arise, in which case, the Directorate reserves the right to take a decision that it deems fit under the circumstances.

• The Directorate reserves the right to make changes to the timetables depending on the number of applicants and availability of adult educators.

• Course notes, materials, tools and any other resources used in class are to be bought by learners from external sources. Course notes shall be sent to learners via email.

• Money collection by the educator to fund any of the resources required by the learner is strictly prohibited and action may be taken accordingly if such collection is done.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information may be obtained:

• from the Directorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability – Tel: 153

• via email at: lifelonglearning@gov.mt

• from Local Councils

• from servizz.gov hubs (freephone: 153, website: www.servizz.gov.mt)          

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

• DIRECTORATE FOR RESEARCH, LIFELONG LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY

Ministry for Education, Youth, Sport, Research and Innovation, Great Siege Road, Floriana, Malta FRN1810

Email: lifelonglearning@gov.mt

• LIFELONG LEARNING CENTRE

Qrejten Street, Msida MSD 1252 (Corner with Junior College)

Tel: 2124 0359 • Email: lifelonglearning.centre.mede@gov.mt

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 14:30 / 17:30 – 20:30

ADULT LEARNING CENTRES (MALTA & GOZO)

BLATA L-BAJDA – San Ġorġ Preca College, Mountbatten Street, Blata l-Bajda HMR 1575. Opening Hours 17:30-20:30

MRIEĦEL – St Theresa College, B. Bontadini Street, Birkirkara BKR 1733. Opening Hours 17:30-20:30

MOSTA – Maria Regina College, Biedja Street (Żokrija), Mosta MST 1420. Opening Hours 17:30 – 20:30

GOZO – Gozo College Secondary School, Europe Street, Rabat Gozo. Opening Hours 17:30-20:30

PLEASE REFER TO THE INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE POLICY DOCUMENT BELOW:

Internal Quality Assurance Policy Document 

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