Comenius development project at Tarxien Primary

Literacy and numeracy are the basis of a Comenius school development programme just launched at Dun Karm Sant Primary School, Tarxien, by Education Minister Dr Louis Galea.

Dun Karm Sant Primary is the co-ordinating school, while the other partner schools are Crook Primary School of Durham, UK, St Mary National School of Culfadda, Ireland, and Krodenbahre Skole of Krodern, Norway.

Representatives of these four schools met over two days, on November 7 and 8, to discuss how together they can address the topic chosen - sharing and comparing the teaching methods to meet the needs of all children in a mainstream school.

The inaugural ceremony took place on November 8 in the hall of the adjacent Maria Goretti Secondary School and was presided over by Dr Galea.

In his speech, Tarxien Primary headmaster Vince Peresso highlighted the objective and actions planned during the preparatory meeting.

He also launched the Comenius Pen Pal Club.

Dr Galea stressed that this is a school development project and as such falls within the actions indicated in the school's development plan. As a result of the initiatives and actions envisaged by the NMC, the class teacher and the school administrator are being provided with the required tools.

It is now up to the teachers to make the NMC a reality in classrooms and in schools. He also encouraged the pupils to take the opportunity and join in the correspondence club which is to be launched at the school.

Joe Sammut, national co-ordinator of the EUPU, said he was sure the co-operation initiated today was a valid means by which four schools from different corners of Europe would benefit by sharing their diverse experiences.

Short messages were also delivered by representatives of the three European schools participating in the project.

Preparatory meeting

The previous day was reserved for a preparatory meeting. Together with the delegations of the four schools, there was the active presence of Dr Paul Bartolo, an educational psychologist and Leonard Grech, Education Officer, representing the Director of Curriculum. These two educationalists gave valid suggestions leading the schools to take concrete actions for the good running of the project.

The main objective within the project is to share experiences in the teaching methodology used in each school, keeping in mind that every pupil has individual educational needs.

During the following three years these schools will be sharing and comparing their methodology in teaching reading, writing and numeracy. This will be carried out by recording lessons and through written reports.

The following actions have been planned.

¤ Each year the schools present reports about the methodology used with regards to the topic under discussion. Videos will highlight what each school is doing to help children learn to read, to put down in writing their thoughts and to tackle numbers. Special attention is given to pupils at risk.

¤ Research is carried out using the Internet and other means on these methodologies.

¤ The reports and the research is disseminated among the four schools for comparison.

¤ Meetings for staff and parents are to be held in each school to explain the workings of the project.

¤ Gradually a Web page is constructed to incorporate these reports and ideas.

¤ Meetings will be held every year so that the schools can discuss progress, monitor work, plan for the following year and be able to share experiences.

Special Needs component

This project came about on the initiative of the late Frank Mallia after the participation in a seminar in Athens by Joan Mercieca, an early intervention teacher within the National Support Service for Children with Special Needs of the Education Division.

Most of the participants at the Malta meeting were in fact involved in inclusion or work with children with special needs. The British delegation of three and one member of the Irish delegation, together with two teachers of the Maltese delegation, are also directly involved in this field of education.

The approach adopted with such children is in fact an integral part of the whole project. By examining the approach used in each school it is hoped to gain further experience in the field of inclusion.

Comenius Pen Pal Club

So that the pupils of each school are directly involved within the project, the four schools will start a Comenius Pen Pal Club. Through this initiative the children have the possibility of sharing their educational, cultural and social experiences. It will also be a means through which children will be introduced to e-mail. To start it off, the Irish delegation brought 65 letters from their pupils to be given to those Maltese students who wish to join the club.

The foreign participants, most of whom were on their first visit to Malta, visited Valletta and Mdina and were taken on a guided tour of the Hypogeum.

They had the possibility to enter all classes at Dun Karm Primary and chat with the pupils, who gave them a warm welcome during the morning assembly and an enthusiastic farewell on Friday afternoon.

In the coming months the schools will be preparing the videos and reports, so that when they meet again in the UK in March next year, they can discuss progress and plans for the following year.