The issues concerning the heavy workload of Year 6 students in Social Studies, the problems of dealing with dyslexic children and helping a parent cope with their child's bullying at school by building their child's self-esteem are some of the parental concerns that were discussed by a panel composed of permanent secretary Frans Borg, education director Cecilia Borg and Bro Saviour Gatt, FSC, director for Services in Catholic Education.

The activities formed part of a number of events held recently to coincide with the fifth European Day of Parents and of Schools organised jointly by AKS and APCCS. Such an initiative was in fact initiated by the European Parents Association in 2002. Other individual state and Church schools celebrated the occasion at school level over the span of a week.

Other issues raised by parents at the two meetings included

• Junior Lyceum exam stress; the availability of teachers trained in dyslexia in Gozo;

• the need for more consideration to be given to dyslexic students during Matsec sessions;

• information for parents about phonics so as to enable them to help their children more;

• more information about the College networking issue; the homework issue;

• the possibility of having a database of daily lessons;

• the needs of gifted children; guidance for parents on examination stress;

• heavy satchels;

• how to deal with student-teacher conflicts; and private lessons.

Since the European Parents Associations organised this event in collaboration with the Education Division, note of all the issues raised was taken and action is being taken directly by the Education Division.