The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is a one-year-plus qualification for graduates who teach or want to teach. Entry rules differ between providers, and some programmes accept only people already working in education. Read the eligibility section for each provider before you pay any fee.
What a PGDE is
A PGDE gives graduates formal training in teaching methods, classroom practice and educational theory. Some programmes include supervised teaching in a school. The University of Colombo’s full-time course, for example, includes 10 weeks of supervised practical teaching.
Our guide to becoming a teacher in Sri Lanka describes it as the most widely recognised professional teaching qualification for graduates. Private school advertisements often list it as preferred.
Who offers it and who can apply
These three providers publish their entry rules online. Rules change between intakes, so confirm them on the provider’s site.
- University of Colombo, Faculty of Education. The part-time, English-medium programme asks for a good command of English and a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or institution. It also accepts an NVQ Level 7 qualification with relevant work experience, as decided by the Faculty Board and Senate. The full-time course runs for 1 year on weekdays in Sinhala or Tamil medium.
- Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). The programme is for graduates of recognised universities who are in the education service, or who hold an equivalent qualification the Senate accepts. Its eligible groups include teachers and principals of recognised schools, in-service advisers, teacher educators, Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service officers and academic staff at universities and National Colleges of Education.
- National Institute of Education (NIE). Applicants need a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from a recognised institution, or an NVQ Level 7 qualification. NIE lists serving teachers, in-service advisers, principals, teacher educators and teachers of semi-government and government-approved private schools among its eligible groups.
If you aren’t teaching yet, the University of Colombo’s part-time programme is the one of the three that describes entry in terms of a degree and not a current teaching post. Check with the Faculty before you apply, because the Faculty Board decides on work experience for NVQ applicants.
What it can lead to
Private and international schools often list a PGDE as a required or preferred qualification. Our guide to teaching jobs at international schools explains what those schools usually ask for.
Training providers also say the PGDE counts toward grade promotion in the government teaching service and is a step toward a Master of Education. Confirm the promotion rules against the current Ministry of Education circular for your service grade, since the circulars set the conditions.
How to apply
- Check the provider’s current call for applications. Programmes open on their own schedules and set closing dates.
- Confirm that your degree is from an institution recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or accepted by the provider.
- Prepare certified copies of your degree certificate, transcripts and identity documents.
- Check the medium of instruction. Colombo’s part-time programme is English medium, and its full-time course runs in Sinhala or Tamil.
- Apply on the prescribed form. The University of Colombo accepts applications by registered post or online.
If you don’t have a degree yet
School leavers can enter government teaching through the National Colleges of Education. Read how to apply for National Colleges of Education for the eligibility and selection rules. For preschool teaching, which has its own qualification path, see our guide to preschool and Montessori teacher jobs.
Current school vacancies are listed on our teaching jobs in Sri Lanka page.
About the Author
Prasad Fernando is the CEO of Skysol Solutions and the owner of CareerLK.com and CourseLK.com. A digital creator with hands-on experience building and managing online platforms for Sri Lanka’s job and education sectors.