Cambridge ESOL
14 February 2011
Ofqual, the exams regulator of the UK government, has confirmed that Cambridge ESOL’s DELTA qualification for teachers is at the same level as a Master‘s degree or a professional diploma in the UK, Ireland and other European Countries.
This is a result of Delta being placed at level 7 of the UK government’s Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF), making it the only English language teaching diploma currently included at this level.
Welcoming this new recognition, Cambridge ESOL’s Chief Executive Dr Mike Milanovic says: “Teachers holding this qualification demonstrate a very high level of expertise indeed and we’re delighted by this acknowledgment from Ofqual. This reflects the quality standards associated with the Delta qualification which is great news for teachers and the millions of students around the world learning English.”
Delta is a qualification aimed at those wanting to teach non-native English speakers and can be taken at any stage of a teacher’s career. The current QCF aims to make further education qualifications easier to compare in terms of their level, including making them more readable across Europe.
Delta has been placed at level 7 on a scale which ranges from Level 1 for beginners to Level 8 for the most advanced. Those who pass Delta can now accumulate a total of 60 QCF credits broken down into 20 for Understanding Language, Methodology and Resources for Teaching, 20 for Developing Professional Practice and 20 for Extending Practice and ELT Specialism.
Dr. Mike Milanovic continues: “We have experienced an increase in the number of people taking our teaching assessments over the years as more and more people discover the benefits of teaching English overseas.
Delta is accepted throughout the world by schools and is recognised as one of the most advanced qualifications for teachers of English as a second language.
It gives ambitious people the opportunity to work abroad and become ESOL teachers when they return home.”
Ofqual has also confirmed that from January 2011, Cambridge ESOL’s CELTA qualification has been included at level 5 of the new framework, which is equivalent in level to a Foundation Degree, Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHE), and Higher National Diplomas (HND) – in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Source: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/what-we-do/newsroom/2011/delta-master-qualification-level.html
Ofqual: http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Qualification/Details/600_0251_7
http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Qualification?recognitionNumber=RN5185
