Gonzi says reception class proposal is 'dangerous'

Matthew Borg

Feb 22nd 2008, 19:34

If students just HAVE to enter University when age 19 (has it really come to that extent?), then it would make more sense to add another year to Sixth Form then to add a 'reception class'.

Like that, students would not be wasting a year of their education, but will be able to attempt a third A Level within a scholastic environment (as opposed to privately, how many people do it nowadays).

Alfred cassar

Feb 22nd 2008, 14:01

This MLP proposal is clearly a 'repetition' year. Our children will finish a year later, i.e. at 17 instead of 16. I dont think any student agrees on this, neither we parents.
There might be a few students who will really need to repeat a year at one stage or another during their scolastic year. But for God's sake not all students should be forced to have an extra year.
Could be that there needs to be some fine-tuning in the way teaching is done at Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 levels. Perhaps calling Kinder 2 as Reception Year might satisfy the MLP without having to add an extra year to our children.

David Farrugia

Feb 22nd 2008, 12:38

The 'academics' who do not support the reception class concept, voiced their opinions at a GonziPN meeting (conveniently), a one sided, political one. They are calling it dangerous. Crime and unemployment is dangerous. Illiteracy is a factor of both.

E. Tabone

Feb 22nd 2008, 11:48

And what David forgot to mention is that we have the highest rate of people following tertiary education than ever before...

Celine Grech

Feb 22nd 2008, 08:54

Mr. Mifsud, in the UK, children start Year 1 at age 5; I live here in the UK and my children attend school here. The scholastic system in the UK is totally different from that in Malta. Reception class children have to be 4 and proceed from their year in Nursery which they start at age 3. Another point to consider is that school age in the UK is taken as per the scholastic year, ie, from Sept. to Aug., and not as per calendar year as is done in Malta, if I am not mistaken. When my children were at school there, being born in Nov. they were among the youngest in the class. Key Stage 1 pupils here (ie pupils in Reception, Yr. 1 and Yr. 2) are taught on a 'learn-through-play' basis with play being gradually reduced in Yrs 1 and 2. If both parties are intent to follow a UK-based system of education, then it would be more beneficial if teachers are sent here to see how interactive classes are here, with a less formal approach to teaching, making school actually fun. My eldest son is in Yr 5 and is nowhere frantic about having to sit for exams, etc. He will have National SATs in Yr. 6 but there isn't that pressure on him as there would be in Malta if he were to sit for the Junior Lyceum/Common Entrance exams. Reduce the syllabus in Malta, first and foremost. Maybe then there wouldn't be so many illiterate students who start to have school at a tender age because of the pressure they have.

Anthony Mizzi

Feb 22nd 2008, 07:00

.I would have , at the most excepted skepticism from Dr. Gonzi who always professed his party to be that of dialogue and not such condemnation for such a worthwhile proposal which could prove such a solid foundation in education for future generations. The parties involved Dr. Gonzi are not only the teachers but the children and their parents , especially with the current lifestyle with both parents working who would surely welcome this innovate approach to learning and understanding by their tots.


I would certainly not describe reception class dangerous, especially with Malta being is at the bottom of the education standards of the EU.

What is really dangerous is the way reception call was out rightly condemned by the P.N. because it was a Malta Labour Party proposal.

Pierre Brincat

Feb 21st 2008, 22:16

Well, PM's view is at least in line what the academics think of the proposal. Sure its dangerous. Reception as proposed by Dr Sant is a more attractive title to repetition.

Renato J. Costigan

Feb 21st 2008, 22:08

YUHUU!!!!! Our Valletta City is going to be an ISLAND i.e The Island of Valletta. A sister island to Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, Filfla and the Islands of St.Paul's.

Well done for your promotion our dear VALLETTA.

A Mangion

Feb 21st 2008, 22:02

Can someone please explain whether this means that children will 'loose' a year or not ? Will this reception class mean that they start education earlier or will they finish a year later ?

This is what worries me about MLP. They first throw in a proposal and then at the first hint of confrontation, they back off. If they really beleive in this, can't they explain it clearly once and for all ?

So please, does this mean that children will start earlier or that they will finish one year late ? Because if the latter is the case, we DON'T AGREE. Problems are not solved by repeating them twice, three times or whatever.

David Farrugia

Feb 21st 2008, 20:26

Alas!, Gonzi forgot to mention that Malta is at the bottom of the education standards of the EU, with the highest number of early school leavers at a rate of over 40%, many of them illiterate. In my opinion this is what is 'dangerous and scandalous'!

Edward Mifsud

Feb 21st 2008, 20:20

Dr Gonzi is mistaken, in the UK children enter reception class at 5 years of age i.e. it is note analogous to kinder 2, but it is analogous to our year 1. In kinder there should be no formal learning and so reception cannot be a substitute for it.

Besides, there are volumes of academic papers that show the value of this class. The UK and Finland have done very well with it and they would have abolished it if it were otherwise.

Please, stop making education a political football and let us discuss issues seriously and from an informed perspective.

Victor Laiviera

Feb 21st 2008, 19:23

Well, at least he has stopped using the word "repeaters".

The light is slowly dawning,

M.Micallef

Feb 21st 2008, 18:44

'dangerous and scandalous' is the way this island is being managed!
'dangerous and scandalous'is the former cabinet!!