'Historic agreement' heralds education reform

A "historic agreement" that should bring about a reform in education, starting from kindergarten level, was signed yesterday between the education authorities and the Malta Union of Teachers.

The agreement comes a year after Parliament enacted legislation for this purpose.

The agreement, lauded by Education Minister Louis Galea and MUT president John Bencini, includes measures aimed at improving learning and teachers' working conditions.

Assessment will no longer revolve solely around exams, with the introduction of a new tool to record pupils' progress from kindergarten, throughout primary and secondary years.

While end-of-year exams will be prepared on a national level, the half-yearly exams will be set by the individual schools. Dr Galea, who described the agreement as a "new chapter" in the development of the country's education system, said it contained over 70 measures, services and benefits to strengthen education.

Teachers are being provided with professional support, more resources, better allowances according to their grades as from January and modern teaching equipment. Even kindergarten classes will be equipped with computers to aid learning.

Moreover, laptops will be given to secondary school teachers and those at the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, in Naxxar.

From 2015, kindergarten assistants will need to hold a university degree and a warrant. They would need a diploma as from 2010.

The reform will be implemented by two directorates - the directorate for quality and standards will focus on the curriculum and the directorate for education services will ensure there are enough resources to provide the necessary education services.

The agreement was signed in view of the radical reorganisation of schools into colleges, together with school and students' councils and community life-long learning centres.Teachers are also set to benefit from the agreement, Mr Bencini said. New teachers or officials in new posts will go through an induction and mentoring process.

He pointed out that, for the first time in local education history, teachers will be given time to discuss curriculum changes.

The agreement also opens the door for better career advancement for educators. Applications for a number of posts will be advertised in the coming weeks.