Gonzi urges MLP to reconsider reception class proposal
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi underlined the PN’s commitment to education as one of the pillars of its policies, saying this morning that it wanted 85 percent of young people to continue their studies beyond secondary school.
He said that in 10 years, the percentage of young people in post-secondary courses had risen from 40 percent to 70 percent, but there was need for this growth rate to be maintained and increased.
Speaking at a press conference outside St Benedict College, Dr Gonzi said the PN was the party for education in Malta and the promise it was making to parents was clear: They could rest assured that the education of their children would continue to progress.
Malta, he said, had a sound education system but there were challenges which had to be faced, one of which was to encourage more young people to further their education.
Another challenge was to ease the transition from primary to secondary school. This was an issue which had started being addressed in this legislature. Examinations between the primary and secondary levels should be there to identify the schoolchildren’s talents and not to create a race among the pupils. Creating tension in the pupils was not helpful. The colleges in state education were being set up for a seamless transition from primary to secondary schooling.
Labour, Dr Gonzi said, had reached a different conclusion, arguing there was a problem in the transition from kindergarten to primary school. This was a very serious mistake which would have very serious implications: children would lose a year which they could never recover. This would also have consequences on the country's labour force in the future. Kindergarten classes were already adequately preparing pupils for primary school and introducing a so-called reception class, which was nothing but a repeater class, would be very wrong. The MLP was going back to the mistaken experiments of the past, and he was appealing to the MLP to reconsider, Dr Gonzi said.
Dr Gonzi stressed, for three times, that the government did not intend to change the September date when Matsec resits are held. People who visited the Matsec website could see the dates were there and they had not changed. The government wanted students to move on to further education as quickly as possible and would not hold anybody back.
Going into various proposals being made by the PN, Dr Gonzi said the new colleges system would be strengthened and accompanied by a modern system of assessment, instead of the tensions of exams.
The school building and maintenance programme would be maintained.
A network of childcare centres would be created and the system of learning support assistance (facilitators) would be extended.
The e-learning strategy would be a core element of the education set-up, with a computer for every four children (instead of one per 11 as at present) and a laptop for every teacher. This would put Malta the top country in the EU.
There would be greater focus on research and innovation, including research fellowships and a €1 million euro research fund.
Students stipends would be retained, including particular support for Gozitan students and students studying in the EU. Assistance to parents who send their children to private independent schools would be stepped up.
The University and other post secondary institutions would enjoy a higher budget and a new Mcast campus would be built, Dr Gonzi said.
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42 Comments
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raphael stafrace
Feb 26th 2008, 00:02
I am not an expert in education but I must point out that something must be urgently done in our education system.Why is that nobody mentions that a lot of our children has to go to private lessons to manage the curiculum in any year starting from 10 years upwards,why is that nobody mentions that kids who are not capable to cope with other children are being called dyslestic?and finally are we sure that private schools are there to teach our children because i am taking an impression that they are only there to make money.if reception classes can eliminate these shortcomings, than I am the first one to vote for it
Pamela Muscat
Feb 23rd 2008, 18:28
How come everyone keeps comparing the proposed reception class to the Uk only..there are schools locally who adopt this system, like Chiswick. Parents are happy to pay for their kids and have never complained about this system. It actaully produces very clever kids in my opinion! I've noticed that none of the people posting comments have actually been in a kinder one or two class of late, nor in a year one class. None of you really know what goes on... the fact that there is a great gap between kinder 2 and year 1 is a fact. Children need more time to learn through play and through different media and the curriculum does not always allow this in primary. I am only speaking from a pedagolgical point of view here, absolutely nothing to do with political views. Early intervention and making sure that the building blocks needed for the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are in place early is a good thing, it will stop some children from falling behind. Adding another year will in fact do no harm as the children will in fact still be 11+ for the so called 11+ exam which is in fact being taken by children at 10+ presently. Children are often repeating yr 6 to give this dreaded Junior Lyceum exam an extra shot. Now THAT is a repeater year and nobody seems to mind...odd. Personally, I think kids should stay at school as long as possible. They need to be more mature when making life altering choices such as staying on at school or not, what"s wrong with further education anyway?I thought we were all in favour of life long learning?!
Graham Crocker
Feb 23rd 2008, 16:01
This is hilarious, how the MLP manage to screw up before the Elections and still people support them. Apparently Kinder 2 = Uk Reception Class. How the hell do they come with this stupid stuff?
Josef Mizzi
Feb 23rd 2008, 11:35
It seems that our children are again in the middle of arguments which lead to nowhere. It's high time to start understanding what our children really needs. As a graduate in the field of education, I firmly believe that the structure should be revised in order to comprise the majority of our children, not only those who can succeed in replicating books on exam papers but also those who can achieve in other skills. We need more holistic approach of education which should be throughout all the years of education. Could someone tell me what happened from the National minimum curriculum which had to tackle so many deficiencies in our education system? Could someone explain to me what where the achievements of the so called colleges and which were left to function on their own? Where these did led us? Structures should be created to give us results, but it seems that this wasn’t the case in this realm. The level of illiteracy is actually going higher. What is happening? What is being done in regards of area secondary schools? Is it the physical environment which our students really need? It’s a good start but please stop posing and telling us how many new curtains were hanged in our schools. Why there are nearly 80% of our schools with no IT teacher at all? Is this the prospective smart island we are prospecting for??
As regards to the reception class, let’s have a clear idea of how it should be functioning so that our children really benefit from it during their initial development. I do believe however that this shouldn’t be a measure on it’s own, if it had be considered as one of a whole chain of measures which should be applied in order to include every single child irrelevant of one’s abilities, intelligence or social class.
It’s high time to get rid of gods talking from high chairs with no touch of reality what so ever. Offices with fitted carpets and flags behind desks are no longer sufficient tool for politicians. We need field workers who are really in touch with what is happening in each and every sector of our social life.
Pauline Barbara
Feb 21st 2008, 20:49
I have serious doubts whether what Dr. Gonzi is correct, i.e. what our children do in Kinder 2 is the same as what children in many other European countries learn in Reception Class. Maybe some Kinder Teachers could shed some light on the matter, because I think its more of the same where our Kinder years 1 & 2 are concerned. I really believe introducing the recpetion class is the right way to go, anything we can do to improve our level of education has to be commended, however maybe replacing Kinder 2 with a Recpetion class would be a better solution over all then introducing an additional year. However I must say that I am disgusted with what Dr. Gonzi is saying that 'MLP want to experiment with our children', insinuating that MLP will be treating our children like lab rats, give me a break, I know this is a political campaign, but enough is enough. MLP wants to improve our educational system, surely everyone can see that something is not as it should be, when we still have so many children leaving school without a basic education. The PN has been in government for 20 years, and being one of the worst countries education wise out of all the EU countries, beggars the question. Has the PN done enough? the answer is no. Building San Benedettu college is all well and good, but I think the money would have been better spent upgrading our existing schools. My niece goes to a secondary school, where she has to share the computer for her IT lesson also there were given photocopies instead of books for certain subjects because they were told there weren't enough books to go around. PN need to get their priorities straight, i.e. spending thousands on building one school or upgrading our existing ones? I for one know what makes more sense. And finally what really got to me is this comment made by Dr. Gonzi 'Ahna ma irridux naghmlu ballun politiku mill edukazzjoni' - Well Dr. Gonzi you are a hypocrite of the biggest order as the proposal of a reception class was in the MLP electorate manifest released in 2006. So Dr. Gonzi if you were opposed to this proposal and as you say education should not be a political issue, then why did you wait until the first week of the electoral campaign to show your dissaproval?
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Feb 21st 2008, 15:14
I notice that some of you are arguing about whether or not it was possible to buy a computer legally in Malta 20 years ago. It was, because in 1988 we had a Nationalist government which had already begun to liberalise the economy. Kurt Vella is obviously speaking about a Labour government, which was hostile to computers in case they took the jobs of people (or pounced on us in the dark and ate us alive).
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Feb 21st 2008, 15:07
I agree with Alexander Borg that the traditional Maltese educational system restricts analytical thought and creativity. That's why there are so many people ready to vote for Alfred Sant.
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 21st 2008, 14:05
Shake hands Mr. Kurt Vella. I don't risk my nephew's future with anything. I want that future better than mine. Well done.
Kurt Vella
Feb 21st 2008, 12:37
Dear Mr Cutajar ONE TV showed Dr.Sants intervention last Monday at University when he was explaining his idea on the so called reception class. He explained it crystal clear I quote “sena zejda wara l-primarja”. This means that while in the English system (which the MLP is taking as an example) children start at Nursery followed by the reception class and then go into primary, the Maltese system is quite the same in that instead of nursery and reception class we have Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 and then they start primary class.
What the MLP is proposing is that after Kinder 2 before entering primary school, our children will have to make an extra year same as Kinder 2 (which MLP is calling reception). A contradiction which I heard lately is that this will be first made on trial. I ask can we afford to experiment with our childrens future? Are we really ready to risk there childhood and education just for the sake of saying that we tried but sorry it was a disaster? Who will give back that missed year to these children? So much as the church school question affected me and my generation so will this measure effect today’s children in their adulthood. Are we really ready to risk that?
My nephew attends Kinder 1 next year he will start attending Kinder 2 and Im not ready that with my vote I risk his future, Im saying this as an uncle imagine if I had a son myself!!!
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 21st 2008, 10:56
Hello I. Abela -
First of all I am more than proud that I am a GonziPN supporter. I have been a keen supporter after Dr Fenech Adami's home was attacked by labour supporters besides other attacks on that same day. My friend I have worked for 30years at the ex-MaltaDrydocks. I witnessed workers of Nationalist belief being beaten, besides other things. Do you know that when these happened there was some ministers who are still labour candidates. Do you know that at that time Dr. Alfred Sant was president of that same party. Do you know that after a month of being elected in power the labour patry during the 1996/98 election, I was suspended for 6 months without pay at the Malta Drydocks because of my belief.
Mr./Mrs. I Abela this part of the story is of that party written in our hearts. So how can I support that party. This is part of my inheritance to my children and their children "Don't look at that party". One of the most important programmes shown on television is - Storja ta' Poplu - where the present and future generations can see and print in their mind what Malta passed through. Let's not go through that again.
The proposed reception class is being introduced after the Kinder1 and 2, in between the primary class. So there is another class. This will be nothing more that a repeater class.
J Cutajar
Feb 21st 2008, 09:04
Yesterday I was watching One TV (Iswed fuq l-Abjad) and one of those interviewed said that the Reception class will be the 3rd consecutive year in the Kindergarten stage.
In other words, it is like having Kindergarten 3. It also means that youths will be entering University at age 19 and over.
Can we please have an official version? There are so many confusing views. Some saying this, some saying that! We need an official version. Please.
If this is the truth, I don't think it's fair that One News is showing a school in England boasting of the success of Reception classes, when in reality this is the same as our present system, ie Kindergarten 2. An explanation is kindly solicited. Please.
abela tony
Feb 21st 2008, 07:51
It all depends what responsible parents wants to see: 40% coming out of school at 16% without the basic skills to write, read and makes sums or a lower percentage, and if possible 0% of these. Reception Class is not going to make miracles to have 100% fully equiped children at school leaving, but experience in more advanced countries in Europe proved that those who may drop backwards in our system (such as the average and below average children who are born during the last three months of the year) had a better rate of success.
For most of the children, who are average or above, reception class will surely improve their performance.
I think that sensible parents should not put politics above the real interest of their children.
James Portelli
Feb 20th 2008, 23:09
20 years ago my father bought the first computer from Tabone Computer centre (underlined, not illegally). It was IBM compatible :D:D an 8086 Intel chip with a 5 inch floppy disk, a whooping 40Mb hard disk, etc etc etc. The world has changed so much since then (thanks to Bill Gates, not Austin, sorry). Maltese way of doing politics has not, I'm sorry (disgusted).
Chris Attard
Feb 20th 2008, 21:18
Sincerely I really don't understand what the issue is all about. Both Dr Gonzi and Dr Sant's aim should be in the same direction, that is to create the opportunity that women are given a financial incentive and therefore are free to join in the national workforce, the children are more nurtured in educational institutions and finally that all business involved thrive in this area. Since many people have already invested in childcare centres, both parties should consider, to include the reception class because that would mean more education to our children however the government should not open new childcare centres run by the government but give the funds to the private childcare centres that will be therefore bringing in the professional knowhow, cost the same if not less (no capital costs) and most importantly dont drive the current investors out of business.
Thanks
J Cutajar
Feb 20th 2008, 16:57
Thanks for reply Mr Abela. But are you sure this is the official stand? If that is the case, why all this hell? However I have my doubt if this is the case.
If that was the case, why not only change the curriculum of Kinder 2 and keep everything as is? I suspect this is not the case.
I would appreciate an official version.
Thanks to everyone. Please do not hurt anyone with your writing. We are a civilised society. And apart all, we are actually discussing education.
Alfred Cassar
Feb 20th 2008, 16:23
According to Victor Laiviera, all that Dr Sant says is right and all that Dr Gonzi says is wrong, even in the case of the Reception Class.
The system in Malta is already the same as in England, the only difference being that in England the first 2 scolastic years are called Nursery and Reception Class, while in Malta they are called Kinder 1 and Kinder 2.
If we introduce Reception Class in Malta it will be 'extra' according to Dr Sant himself.
So it can also be called 'repetition' class. I don't think we need this extra class for our students. It will not make that difference in our children.
I. Abela
Feb 20th 2008, 16:04
Dear Mr. Costigan, from what I gathered from your comments the only thing simple as ABC is that you are a GonziPN supporter and therefore you can't possibly come up with a reasoned opinion. As far as I know MLP are proposing a reception class between Kinder and Primary. Never ever has anyone mentioned that a Reception Class will be introduced after Kinder 2. If Kinder 1 is left as it is and Kinder 2 replaced with a reception class then students will not enter university at 19 like you said but at 18. You should be better informed before making comments. And to inform yourself you need to hear everything from everyone and then reason things out on your own and not repeat a party leader's opinion. Also I cannot understand why people choose to call the reception class a repeater class. It simply doesn't make sense. A repeater class is when you repeat a class which you have already attended, hence repeater. Just like you said there is nothing intelligent to understand about this.
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 20th 2008, 13:29
Mr. Cutajar there is nothing intelligent to understand. As you said, our students will enter the university at the age of 19 years instead of 18 years. As simple as ABC.
J. Cutajar
Feb 20th 2008, 12:34
From what I'm understanding there is a difference between the reception class in England and the one proposed in Malta. While in England and other countries which adopted the reception class, children spend not more than 2 years before entering the primary level, children in Malta will spend 3 years. This will mean that while youth in other countries enter Univeristy at the age of 18, youth in Malta will be 19. Can someone please correct my impression?
Hawwadtuni! If that is the case, does it mean that kids in Malta has something less than other European counterparts? Or does it mean that the Kindergarten years will be limited to only one year? Thank you.
M. Savona
Feb 20th 2008, 12:19
I think instead of trying to figure out on how a reception class should work, we should really try to improve our existing schools to provide a better education.
For starters does anyone know of a published school rating system that exists that shall help parents find a good school for their children?
A school rating system will instill competition between schools on who will provide the better education. It will also highlight the anomility if it is true that church schools are really better than government schools and private schools are better than church schools!
T.Busuttil
Feb 20th 2008, 11:29
I am actually English (my father is Maltese) and have lived here for nearly a year. I think there is a mixup here about how the English Schools, they are:
Reception age 4-5
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3 (juniors)
Yr 4
Yr 5
Yr 6 after yr 6, age 11 you then attend secondary school of your choice and I'm pretty much sure we still have the 11+
Then there is;
Yr 7
Yr 8
Yr 9
Yr 10
Yr 11 at this age you are 16 and able to leave school when you want, go to college work or do 6th form for A levels.
For me Reception was great, it never done no harm and no one complained. Before this I attended Play School, not to sure if you have this or not... At Play School it was fun we also learnt basic things such as numbers and writing your own name. I was around 3 or 4 when I attended Play School. I don't think people should compare England Schools to Maltese Schools, the mentality here is very different.
J. Mercieca
Feb 20th 2008, 10:32
I urge everyone who is insisting that the reception class is a success in countries such as the UK to do a quick search on the internet. The reception class in the UK is equivalent to our Kinder 2, hence we already have it in place and there is no need for an extra year! Maybe we should emphasize on compulsory education - be it formal education/training/apprenticeship up till the age of 18 and don't waste more time on this useless subject.
Renato J.Costigan
Feb 20th 2008, 09:27
Explanation between the difference of the reception class in England and as is being introduced in Malta.
<pre>
ENGLAND MALTA
1st year 1st year
Nursery Kinder 1
2nd year 2nd year
Reception Class Kinder 2
3rd year 3rd year
Primary Class repeater class
4th year Primary class
</pre>
Can someone explain what this is called if not 'repeater class'
carmel tonna
Feb 20th 2008, 08:58
Mr Vella, please not that I did not need any Minister's help as I bought it from an outlet in St. Joseph High Road Hamrun. Now I also doubts which is worse, invoking a Minister or being a smuggler.
Jurgen Bugeja
Feb 20th 2008, 08:51
Mr.Norbert Vella you don't agree with the reception class because you're saying that our children will finish year 6 at the age of 11. Let's say you're right but you know that if PN will be again in government we have to work till 65!! That's a U turn!!!
Kurt Vella
Feb 20th 2008, 08:32
In reply to Mr. Carmel Tonna I also had a Commodore as my first computer. Maybe Mr Tonna himself had the blessing of the Minister at the time while my father didn’t have that after being beaten up twice and his car set on fire!!
alfred agius
Feb 19th 2008, 21:36
The PM is not an educationalist and attempting to ditch the reception class proposal amounts to sheer irresponsability.
All initiatives to consolidate the early stages of young children`s learning journey is to be commended.
This is indeed one of the important propososals made in recent years in the field of education. WHY? Simply my dear Watson ! It is a preventative measure and in the long run will save children from failure and ultimately money spent in corrective measures that are presently being given without yealding the expected results though at great expense; money that could be much better spent. How? In preventative measures. Such as ? The introduction of a reception Class. Yes, definitely for and not against.
J. Zarb
Feb 19th 2008, 21:22
I think that the Labour party is shedding crocodiles and bemoaning our educational system (which has undergone extensive investment and progress since 1987) because it cannot come up with a alternative that is credible enough! The reception class is yet another proof.....in the UK, the ATL has described these initiatives as 'Reception teachers are victims of disjointed national education policy. " Perhaps this is a real case of TOO little TOO late!
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 19th 2008, 20:47
I would like to refer Mr. Norbert Vella to this morning's press conference by the Prime Minister.
Our Prime Minister explained exactly how this reception class works in England. I hope that you too comes to the conclusion that this is a 'repeater class'
Reuben Agius
Feb 19th 2008, 20:29
It is clear that the Reception Class proposal is half baked and intended – like much of the MLP manifesto – to market the ‘New Beginning’. It hurts, as a concerned parent, that the party that destroyed my prospects of obtaining a University degree is now intent on introducing an additional primary school year by simply inserting a ‘reception class’ between kindergarten and primary school.
As part of a holistic education plan with a balanced realignment of the curriculum it might make sense. However, having only attended the University of Life it is evident that the simple insertion of a repeat year is not a solution.
Unfortunately, this is very much in line with MLP politic. They take an idea and transplant it without any consideration for the repercussions of the initiative. If they had proposed a detailed review of the primary system with a view to increasing literacy rates they may have been more credible. Cutting and pasting the Reception Year from a different education system is highly irresponsible.
John Schembri
Feb 19th 2008, 20:20
Any changes in Education should be discussed in a calm way with every body even with the kids.
When implemented the process should be slow and monitored continuously.
Reception class can be a good idea ,but to increase schooling by a year ( Dr Sant said "intawlu b'sena") would spell havoc on the parents and their children.
j.scerri
Feb 19th 2008, 19:38
Reception Class - No thank you. Our children have more than they can chew on for a good many years to come. How about deciding on abolishing common entrance exams? No country has this. How about deciding to use three monthly credit systems( based on schoolwork,homework,projects) for most subjects for entry to form one? I would keep only two major subjects for final examination - English and Maths , both universal tools for further learning. How about taking pre and post secondary students out to find out all about 'how it is made' in the manufacturing in industry ? and asking them to create presentations about what they learned . May the day come when they are relieved of the excessive pressue they have which is not letting them enjoy their youth . At the tender age of kinder garden school the above topics cannot be appreciated since children are so young. My suggestion is to make kindergarten optional . Year one up (5 year old) will be compulsery education. Malta is lucky to have developed a system for FREE tuition . Shall we ask students in post secondary and tertiary level to pay , meaning study during the day and night and work part time in the evenings to pay for their school? This is also done in most countries . does anyone like this option ? I doubt it !!
Norbert Vella
Feb 19th 2008, 19:12
I went on Internet to check if the reception class that MLP is considering in his manifesto, actually would be a repeater class as Dr Gonzi is saying. I found out that this is not the case. As you can see in the wikipedia website (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_England#The_structure_of_the_English_educational_system) the reception class in England is for the age of 4 to 5 Years, therefore everyone would finish Year 6 by the age of 11 as in fact is today in Malta.
Alexander Borg
Feb 19th 2008, 18:47
Encouraging students to go beyond secondary education is all well and good. But parties should also state how they will finally get Maltese education into the EU! The outcome of the last 40 years has been what is probably the highest rate of illiteracy in the EU (7.2%); and an educational system which is still very exam-based, repressive to analytic thought and creativity, and heavily constrained by gender segregation and a socially unjust streaming process. All features that in the rest of Europe are a thing of the past.
Graham Crocker
Feb 19th 2008, 18:22
There is no need for reception class and what works in the UK doesn't necessarily work in Malta.
carmel tonna
Feb 19th 2008, 18:03
Kurt Vella said that 20 years ago his father had to bring a computer illegally from Sicily. Well I did not have to travel so far. I bought one from St. Joseph High Road Hamrun, a Commodore 128. PC's as we know them today had not yet reached the market.
luke gatt
Feb 19th 2008, 17:27
In Malta the so called reception call already exists, this is because we have a 2 year kindergarten classes which serve as reception class.
Keith Sammut
Feb 19th 2008, 17:21
How long are we going to waste time discussing the reception class as if it were the do or die of our educational system? How about removing the Junior Lyceum Exam and the Common Entrance Exam once and for all? Malta is still one of the last countries still to run an 11+ exam. In Ireland this exam is even illegal. Removing the exam would help students enjoy learning and not having an exam based curricullum. Students are having a traumatic experience due to these exams. Studies have proved it as Dr Carmel Borg may confirm. May I point out that our NMC was published in 1999 to guide our educational system to move to an inclusive system with no streaming or an 11+ exam.
Carmelo Abela may need some good updating...maybe Evarist Bartolo can do the job. A reception class would be just patch work. So will computers in class. What we really need is an overhaul. Its the system that is preventing our children from getting the success they need. Obviously this is only my opinion... time might prove me wrong!
Kurt Vella
Feb 19th 2008, 16:45
I doubt how much Mr Laviera knows about the English system of education. Just read my previous comment.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 19th 2008, 14:24
Someone should do Dr Gonzi a favour and tell him that the reception class is not an experiment but a tried and proven system which has given excellent results, for example in England.
Neither is it a repeater class which he keeps calling it.
It really is too bad of his advisers to allow him to make these gaffes.
Marco Brincat
Feb 19th 2008, 13:57
A reception class, like the one introduced in the UK, would have been beneficial if a clear detailed curriculum and syllabus were set up.
However, this proposed 'reception class' will have a lot of negative repercussions. Among these: Students will end obligatory school at age 17 instead of 16.
Schools would need more classrooms, or else the remaining pupils will end up in a crammed class. There must be more qualified teachers and at the moment we are far away from saturation point at primary level... etc etc
Kurt Vella
Feb 19th 2008, 12:26
The PN believes not only in free education, but a good and excellent education to one and all. This is the difference between the PN and MLP. The achievements speak for themselves. The University population is nearly 10,000, with thousands of students graduating each year. We now also have MCAST and new schools built to improve the educational environment of our children.
20 years ago my father had to bring a computer illegally from Sicily, today the government is investing in our teachers, providing them with laptops, with computer access to all our children, blueskies, e learning, e government. What a difference!!
All this was achieved because this government knew what the country really needed.
While Dr Gonzi is filling us with courage and enthusiasm to move forward, to achieve excellence, to keep on studying and serving our country to best of our abilities, Dr Sant wants our children to lose a year as, according to him, our children should have a repeating class. An unfair situation for all children and their parents.
The reception class in the UK is between nursery and primary. We in Malta have the same situation with Kinder 1 and 2. Why then make our children repeat a further year!!!