Students who make their voice heard

'This is tangible proof of the spirit of cooperation... among students, parents, teachers and the local community.'

One of the objectives listed in the mission statement of the department falling under my responsibility is "to promote a proper image of the public service and the country". I thought of this when recently, during the course of my duties, I came across a very praiseworthy initiative taken by the staff members of the Guzè D'Amato Boys' Secondary School of Paola.

We hear so much justified and unjustified criticism of the public service. But, as with everything else in life, we rarely hear anything about the good deeds that happen around us. Here I refer to an instance that makes the public service proud of having within its ranks motivated people who go about their work with enthusiasm and a good measure of creativity. The main protagonists are the students; however, their teachers and other staff members provide a shining example of commitment, inspiring leadership and dedication that go beyond the call of duty.

Students at the Guzè D'Amato secondary school have been broadcasting radio programmes from their school for the past nine months. The idea behind this project matured during the last scholastic year in the course of the weekly afternoon sports and cultural activities held at school. One of the groups was called the Radio Club. From within a computer lab transformed into a kind of studio, the student members of this club produce and record programmes with the help of members of the teaching staff. These programmes are then transmitted on Power FM 90.4 every Wednesday at 4 p.m., with repetitions on Thursday at 9 p.m. and Friday at 9 a.m. The programmes can also be accessed via the school and Education Division websites.

The programmes tackle sports, culture and the environment, and also include interviews with students and personalities connected with the school, such as the local mayor, foreign teachers and students. Students also broadcast school news and attend to their friends' musical requests. Interesting programmes on archaeology and Maltese traditions are also included in the schedule.

As a result of this activity the students themselves come closer to and understand better what they hear during their social studies lessons. In fact, besides the radio programmes, the students also produce and publish a newspaper called L-Istampa for distribution among other students at the same school. This is another means of communication, complementing the radio broadcasts, that is helping the spread of culture, knowledge and education among youths.

This initiative by the Paola secondary school is also serving as a means of self-expression by students. It helps individual students develop their character, air their opinions on various topics and listen to what other students have to say, at the same time giving them the opportunity to express themselves. All this is basic democracy expressed in a practical way.

One is fascinated by the enthusiasm and motivation shown by these young broadcasters as they meet to produce and record one of the programmes, called Il-Pagun. They discuss the research work required to tackle a particular subject, such research often carried out in the school library, or how the programme should be produced. They are assisted in their task by Albert Muscat and Adrian Vella, two teachers at the school, and by Manwel Cassar, a school technician with a good broadcasting background. All this takes place during the lunch break!

The staff at the Guzè D'Amato secondary school, under the responsibility of headmaster Joe Cilia Vincenti, is proud of these students, whose radio broadcasts have aroused interest among both students and parents. In fact, many parents have expressed their satisfaction to the fact that their children are participating directly in this project. Parents themselves have been interviewed by the students during school activities such as Parents' Day or the annual Open Day.

Today the students are aware of the type of programmes their friends would like to have. They play for them the music they enjoy and keep them informed about current events that are interesting to them. They even come forward with cooking recipes which are interesting to both students learning home economics and food technology, as well as to parents.

The school Radio Club has developed further and the number of students showing interest in this project keeps growing. Teachers have taken note of and appreciate the students' willingness in contributing towards this initiative, which has become an integral part of the school's activities. This is tangible proof of the spirit of cooperation that exists in this educational institution among students, parents, teachers and the local community.

One should not fail to mention that some of the old boys of the school are building a career of their own in the world of broadcasting. This school project can certainly encourage other students to become broadcasters in the future. In fact, some students participating in this school project are already being heard on other radio stations.

The 30-minute Radio Club programme can also be heard on Education 22.

Mr Abela is Director of Information.

http://schoolnet.gov.mt/gdamato