Illiteracy in Cottonera 'a big problem'

The high degree of illiteracy in Cottonera is a big problem that should be tackled seriously. Educational structures in the region, however, leave much to be desired since the children of Cottonera are the least to benefit from the system when compared to children from any other area in Malta.

Presenting a memorandum on illiteracy and education problems to Education Minister Louis Galea, the Labour Party's Cottonera Joint Committee said the number of young people who leave school not knowing how to read is alarming. Moreover, most are not even skilled in one trade or another.

Labour leader Alfred Sant, who is the Cottonera Joint Committee's chairman, said literacy attainment in the region is so low that the number of children who pass the Junior Lyceum exam was below last year's national average.

"While 46 per cent of Maltese children made it to the Junior Lyceum in 2003, only 45 per cent of children from Vittoriosa passed their examination. Figures are lower in Senglea and Cospicua where only 25 per cent and seven per cent respectively made it to the Junior Lyceum," he said.

These figures are in stark contrast to the 78 per cent in the case of Attard children who made it to the Junior Lyceum last year.

Dr Sant pointed out that a large number of children attending schools in the region scored less than 15 marks in exams in their main subjects.

The Cottonera Joint Committee also pointed out that there is a big problem of absenteeism from schools. In fact, figures show that children from the area miss classes more than their counterparts in any other locality with the same size and population.

The Labour leader said that according to the people of Cottonera, the frequent changes in school administration, especially school heads, is to blame for the precarious situation at the schools.

"At the Cospicua primary school, for instance, the school head was changed twice in a span of two years," Dr Sant said.

Another factor, the students' parents said, was that there are too many children in each classroom.

The memorandum said that the psychological service offered in the region is lacking, especially in the case of the Lorenzo Gafà School. "Appogg social workers posted in Cottonera change frequently and these do not have enough time to win the people's confidence," the committee said.

Other factors contributing to the present state of affairs are linked to the lack of funds for purchasing of stationery in schools.

While adult illiteracy in the region is high, only one learning centre was opened in Cospicua in recent years and only 10 people attended courses there.

Dr Galea said the Joint Committee's initiative was a "positive" one. He expressed appreciation for its efforts to work in a region that could be considered as "special" area because of its particular needs as well as its beautiful characteristics.

"We have worked to tackle the problems but what we've done is certainly not enough," the minister said.

Dr Galea said the real breakthrough would be if individuals and families in Cottonera are empowered to make use of the social programmes and services available since, according to him, the problems are related to a lack of response from the people and not just to a lack of educational and structures.