Thursday, 4th September 2008 - 11:25CET

Education: Authorities urged to review exams and stop streaming

Prof Kenneth Wain.

A business breakfast on the Maltese educational system this morning heard repeated calls for a review of the examinations system and the streaming process.

A strong appeal was also made for greater emphasis on lifelong education.

Professor Kenneth Wain, one of the speakers at the event, hosted by the PN in the run-up to the Independence celebrations, said the country was not taking life-long education seriously enough. Malta, he said, urgently needed a strategic national plan for life-long learning.

He also argued strongly against streaming, saying the selection of children at a very young age was immediately instilling in many of them a sense of failure. Such decisions, he said, needed to be delayed as much as possible.

Indeed, the Junior Lyceum and Common Entrance Examinations were not doing the education system any good and needed to be reviewed in the context of the ongoing assessment of children.

MUT president John Bencini said the college system being piloted at Kullegg San Benedittu, where one had children of different levels under one roof, needed to be adequately supported in order to succeed.

He said that the issues of school discipline and the teacher shortage needed to be discussed in detail and addressed, pointing out that wthin a short time, Malta risked having a lack of professional teachers in primary schools.

This morning’s event started with a presentation on the education system by Paul Attard, president of MCAST, who also said that too much importance was being given to exams.

The event was concluded by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who said that education was the top priority for the government, not least because investment decisions were being taken on the basis of the availability of a skilled and trained workforce. Indeed, decisions in the education sector taken 20 years ago had a bearing on investment decisions today.

Dr Gonzi said today’s generation had a window of opportunity, especially in information technology, which it needed to grasp and exploit.

Comments

G Schembri (on 6/9/08)

If we do away with the Junior Lyceum and church School examinations, children will continue in the same school they started in yr 1. This means that a child's future would be determined with the lottery held by church schools when the children are only 4 years old. It will have nothing to do with their ability or hard work. Whilst now if children who attend state education and work hard enough they can continue their secondary education either in one of the church schools or in a Junior Lyceum with a better chance of getting enough O Levels to continue with their tertiary education.

r spagnol (on 6/9/08)

Vassallo and Farrugia, wake up!!!!

Don't you remember the panic arised by certain apologists like you (who were in Opposition in those times), whenever some 50c charge was introduced!!!! It is still echoing in our minds the cry of the "33 taxxa" from those who over two years have collected more than Lm100 000 000 additional revenue.......

Energy and determination by the new cabinet?????

Marianna Galea Xuereb (on 6/9/08)

While I agree with e.deguara that common sense is the most important asset it certainly is not true that “the people with the most certificates get the top jobs and take the most important decisions”.
Our society would be much healthier and better off if that statement were at least partially true. I can recount dozens of instances when I personally was passed over for promotion, post-graduate degree sponsorship or even a new job or career by other candidates who were not only less academically qualified and experienced than myself but also seriously deficient as far as professional and personal integrity and work practice track record were concerned.

In the Maltese Islands far too much importance (and associated undeserved privileges) is accorded to such matters as who people are, who they know, who supports/ protects them and to what extent are they prepared to turn a blind eye to all sorts of bad practices and evil in order to “fit the corporate culture”. Hardly any consideration is given to how truly capable, professional, creative, experienced and versatile workers / managers / decision makers may be and even less to their track record in moral, personal and ethical integrity.

e.deguara (on 5/9/08)

"It would be useful if they added "common sense" to the essential subjects to be taught - turning out educated idiots is a waste of talent. "
This is the most sensible sentence uttered so far in this blog.
What good is it having an entire wall covered in diplomas and degrees when you have no common sence? and remember that the people with the most certificates get the top jobs and take the most important decisions. look around you and you will notice several examples of the worst mistakes done by the so called experts among us.

Randolph Peresso (on 5/9/08)

...... As I was saying before, I would go for more detailed assessment, where the students knowledge of all the single points mentioned in the syllabus would be tested. This could be spread throught the whole year. Therefore the students would not have to stuff in a year's long learning, and reproduce it on paper. Very much like the ECDL method of testing, or like the sysytem used in University, where a test is done after the termination of each credit. In this way, fairing bad in one area would not determinate a possible failure. Then students will be streamed according to their abilities. This could be done from as early as yr2, where it would obviuosly invole an interview with the student's teacher in the presence of an Educational official. As students get older, the influence of written assessment should increase. I think this is a system which, if discussed deeply and fine-tuned, can yield much better results.

Paul Barrett (on 5/9/08)

Educated in the UK, I hated school, failed 11+ and therefore had a Secondary/Comprehensive education and left just before my 15th birthday to get a job.
My sister passed 11+ went to Grammer school and then college. At at the age of 61 she is still doing courses - one day she might actually get a job.
I totally agree with streaming - some have the ability to absorb dry education and pass exams; they should not be held back by those that are not interested or do not have the ability to absorb this kind of instruction.
It would be useful if they added "common sense" to the essential subjects to be taught - turning out educated idiots is a waste of talent.
We are all individuals.

Joseph Micallef (on 4/9/08)

@I.Scicluna
That's why nothing is ever done. Because in the 70's the system was changed without any proper planning and preparation and it failed. It does not mean though that it was bad to remove exams. It was bad to remove them without the necessary preparation. One should be aware of the studies that have been done re streaming to have an informed opinion. Ok earlier I referred to streaming at year 4 - that's only because when I used to teach at a primary school streaming used to be done at year 4 then, if I am not mistaken. Its been a long time ago anyway.

I.Scicluna (on 4/9/08)

I couldn't believe this was happening. Moreover, all and sundry are all but falling over themselves to join the bandwagon and raise their voices in a chorus of approval to remove streaming and entrance examinations between Primary and Secondary education!

I just wonder whether these "enlightened" were the same people who have lambasted the MLP for the Education reform in the 70's, and still do so...when it suits them?

How many times have we heard/read today's intelligensia lamenting that their student days were ruined in the 70's blah blah blah!

In a nutshell; removing streaming and entrance exams in the 70s = BAD, but removing streaming and entrance exams today = GOOD harbouring on the MIRACULOUS.

Some people ought to look up the word "consistency" in a dictionary! OH! Sorry! I forgot that your SCHOOLING was interrupted during the reign of terror of the ooooooo 70s!

G.Schembri (on 4/9/08)

Joseph Micallef said: “What if it were your own child, who for some reason, and not because of his lack of ability to learn, ended up in a "low stream" at year 4?” My youngest son actually failed his Junior Lyceum exams, and attended a Boys Secondary School. He had all our support we never told him that he was a failure, at the Secondary school he found all the help he needed and he could work at his own pace. In Form two he sat for the Junior Lyceum annual exams and passed. We opted for him to repeat form two. He sat for his Matsec exams in Form 4 and Form 5 and passed six exams including English and Math. Had there not been any streaming my son would never have made it, because as teachers can very well tell you in a mixed ability class of 30 students some children are left behind, and there is not enough support for these students

G.Schembri (on 4/9/08)

. It sounds fine to say that we should do away with streaming, but nobody is saying what kind of support is available to children with mild learning difficulties. I believe the education authority should introduce a good support system. Children should be monitored from year one, and should be given help according to their needs. Illiteracy will not end just because we remove streaming. Presently children are not being provided with appropriate learning support. The removal of the Junior Lyceums will only lead to more problems. I know parents who have opted for Church Secondary schools, because they do not trust the present colleges’ system, the same parents had sent their older children to Junior Lyceums, with successful results.

Ethel Deguara (on 4/9/08)

What students really need is to get out of the classroom as much as possible and get hands on experience. The classroom environment doesn't stimulate the students who look at the same charts day in day out. It gets boring after the first month. Their creativity is stifled and their imagination stunted. No wonder we have such mediocrity in all that we do. This lack of inventiveness percolates down to all levels of society Just watch our pseudo TV programmes. Which programmes make it to the top ten favourite? look at the buildings going up around us. listen to the discussions among the public. this allstems from the lack of creative stimulation in schools.

G. Spiteri (on 4/9/08)

I've been teaching at secondary level for more than 20 years and I think that the solution is to introduce specialised subject teachers in primary years and set students according to each subject. Therefore students will be able to excel in their stronger field of study rather than getting bored.

Disciplinary problems are often linked with less able students. But have anyone thought about the fact that students are getting frustrated when they under achieve in certain areas and cannot produce better work due to streaming.

I hope that we'll all work together to produce schools buzzing with activities that will make students looking forward to their days at school rather than fighting to get students at school.

martin portelli (on 4/9/08)

What streaming has certainly delivered is a failing education system. One has to acknowledge that the mixed ability classroom is a challenging environment and requires motivated, creative educators who none the less need the right support not simple lip service from the educational authorities. Anyone can come up with reams and reams of documents promising reform and visionary solutions in Education; however, implementation has been sadly cosmetic. No wonder we never dare participate in the the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted every 3 years by the organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The PISA survey assesses 15-year-old students in science, reading and mathematics.Essentially you would get a good audit of the schooling system this way and how it compares internationally.The next survey scheduled in 2009 will also assess problem-solving skills. Malta is not listed as one of the participant countries never has been actually. A schooling system hell bent on producing exam animals rather than students who can think critically and creatively can't be doing the job market and the economy any favours. Quality education my foot!

n camilleri (on 4/9/08)

Education system has been there forever and needs to be wiped off and changed into a direction where children can enjoy a school day and not be terrorised by the coming exams or feel inferior by the streaming. Wake up malta look around us children start kinder school at the ages of 5 and 6 in most of the european countries and northern America. Our poor kids at the ages of 3 are thrown into school screaming for mummy!!!

Something else which needs to be looked at AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Does the education department know that the birzebbuga primary school 'b' does not allow children to wear a shorts on their jogging suit days being hot or not!!!! Do they know that children are sent back home if a parent decides it is too hot and has their child wear a short (decent short I am talking about here) . Simply un human. Who would want to wear a polyester jog pants in the heat ????? I've never seen the head master wearing one that's for sure!!

N Zammit Alamango (on 4/9/08)

Every one has failed to mention alternative methods of exams. For instance, orals. Like i said in my previous post i tend to panick when it comes to written exams. At school i had teachers who bothered testing me orally and i always did my better. This does exist abroad, even at Uni level.

Another point... we look at statistics and get a shock. I wonder what would happen if there is a sudden intelligent generation boom where for example 4000 students get general entry requirements for 6th form. What happens then? Or much more students pass for University. What will the government do ?

Or do they make sure this does not occur?

Why cannot we see our examination paper during a revision of paper?

So many questions... yet no one able to answer them. Lets take care of students now. They are the future of this country and even the present.

N Zammit Alamango (on 4/9/08)

I cannot agree better with Ernest Vella.

As a student myself, i do not agree with streaming. If intelligent students are mixed with those who find it harder to learn or simply need more time, does this mean they will become less intelligent? No, on the contrary they will improve and help the rest. And no streaming is not a solution for discipline Mr. Mizzi.

I fully agree with what Mr. Vella said below for a number of points. I myself panick when it comes to exams. Does this mean i am less capable then other students? Does this mean i cannot continue my studies? With the current educational system, its more of a yes then a no! Why should students be tested on a 3 hour papers, after working for 9 scholastic months? Students who have a good memory and tend to learn things like a parrot will do well, others that have memory problems are judged there and then. More course work should be done, assignments etc....

And yes... kids are not being able to enjoy their childhood years. For some unknown reasons school is not enough!

Change the system!

Randolph Peresso (on 4/9/08)

I am a qualified teacher in a state primary school. I have taught yr 4 students, in a mixed ability setting, and years 5 and 6. With regards to yr 6, I have practically taught all streams.

I tend to agree with T. Pisani's comments, but see very valid points in Profs. Wain's comments. I don't think there is a one-fit-for-all sysytem. Pisani is very correct when saying that we have to stay very carefull not causing high achievers to fall back. From my personal experience, I have noticed that high-flyers tend to do better if they have good competition from other high-flyers. More-over, it is very difficult for a teacher to use the differentiated teaching approach, where practically s/he has to prepare 3 different lesson plans - 1 for the high-flyers, another for the average students, and another for the slower learners. Even more so if s/he has a class of 25-30. It is very difficult to give individual attention in such situations. I personally believe that streaming is of benefit to the high-flyers, average students and slow learners. What I am against is the present method of assesment. I would rather go for a more detailed assesment........

Emmanuel Ebejer (on 4/9/08)

Maybe the NSO can give us a hand here. It would be interesting to know how many students sat for the Maltese Matsec re-sit yesterday. Maltese being our mother language, the amount of students who went for the re-sit yesterday was amazing.

Louis Gialanze (on 4/9/08)

I hope no one is advocating a return to days when the 11 plus examination was done away with. For starters, sec paper 11B ought to be discontinued if we are really after quality rather than quantity and for good measure MCAST will have to make use of properly qualified teaching staff. Unfortunately some of the latter do not posess an 'A' level standard themselves. And do stop playing about with words please and come down to earth. Some centre of excellence !

David Bailey (on 4/9/08)

When it comes to education I tend to have an elitist approach.. those who can do and those who can't don't. We must support those students who are good achievers because they are the ones who move on to University and higher things, whilst those who struggle to do well (be it because of intelligence, social background, learning disabilities etc.) are given appropriate training in other skills that are equally important to our country and to society. I fully support streaming but each class has to be taught different skills and subjects based on their abilities.

Let's be realistic here, if your child has sub-par intelligence compared to others, what's the use of pushing him towards University when it's futile? Would it not be better for him to learn a skill that would support him and be able to make a decent living, instead of watching him fail time and time again? No amount of private tuition and extra homework will bring him up to speed with others.. sometimes the mental capacity just isn't there.

m cassar (on 4/9/08)

Look at our educational statistics and compare them with other EU countries... it is enough to make you shudder! Of course streaming is bad and that we focus too much on exams. What else is new? Can we take some action now please?

Joanne Micallef (on 4/9/08)

We have been saying for years that our educational system needs to be reviewed; the system is failing big time, not only academically but also on a human level. What is hindering the authorities concerned from going to the next level and start implementing the changes needed?

M.Demanuele (on 4/9/08)

removing streaming is not as easy and straight forward as it sounds. imagine a teacher in front of 30 mixed ability students striving to elicit the best out of each and everyone of them. it's already hard in a streamed class let alone one with all levels of ability. some group will inevitably suffer. either the 'clever' ones will outrun the less bright or the less bright will hold back the brighter ones. The first step must be to reduce the class population. but this entails more teachers, more classrooms, more equipment and more salaries. that's just one of the major problems.

Melvin Magri (on 4/9/08)

There is only one solution, that is to change Malta's educational philosophy: from quantity to quality.

What's the point for a student at secondary level be studying nine subjects?
And why can't a student at sixth form level specialize more?

Especially, when long-term education means specializing into a particular area of work/study.

B Sant (on 4/9/08)

For a comprehensive national plan on education, sport and other extra currciular activities have to be included. It is disappointing to see obese children with a good academic backgroung and who lack interpersonal skills coz all they did in their child and teenage was study and study. The doors open up at 14/16 years of age and they dont knwo what to do and how to enjoy life except to binge drink

C Galea (on 4/9/08)

@ joseph micallef
You accuse Marvin Mizzi of beng ill informed then you say "
What if it were your own child, who for some reason, and not because of his lack of ability to learn, ended up in a "low stream" at year 4?"
streaming is initiated from year 5.
One other thing, streaming has got nothing to do with discipline. the students are streamed according to the results they obtain in year 4. Discipline is a totally different topic

'Dr Gonzi said today’s generation had a window of opportunity, especially in information technology, which it needed to grasp and exploit.'
The same old comment about I.T. i'm surprised he didn't mention Smart city.We are putting all our eggs in one basket. Not everyone is inclined towards the sciences and information tachnology. Are we catering for these students? A student may be disposed towards art for instance. Are we doing enough to exploit his/her talents? Who is going to take care of our heritage and culture in the future if not these students?
What about other areas of education for example art?

T. Pisani (on 4/9/08)

According to this article, Professor Kenneth Wain argued that many students are being instilled with a sense of failure, and hence he is totally against streaming because of this situation.

Does the word 'many' for the professor implies all the students?

It's right to cater for the low achievers, but we must cater for all types of students. We have clever and bright students in our classrooms and we must help them achieve more. Think of these as well please and cater for them. I think that stopping streaming for these type of students will immediately instil a sense of failure when they find themselves mixed up with those who do not want to learn.

Ernest Vella (on 4/9/08)

I think the solution is a serious assesment of every child from his entrance in the education system so that instead of the exam tension with its traps, a child would be assist on his global performance. Doing so it will remove the year 6 exams and therefore we will give the chilhood back to our kids.

Regarding Church Schools, while saying a big thank you to what the Church gave to the education, I think the Church Schools must be opened for everyone and not only for those who pass their Common Entrance Exams. The Church charisma was always for the least and the poor and not for the rich and intellegent once...I think in this the Maltese Church must study her role seriously for in my opinion some church school does not preach and live such charisma. The is not an insult to the church but just a genuine wish that the education for aur kids is always the best.

Joseph Micallef (on 4/9/08)

Marvin Mizzi is just the sort of person I was referring to in my previous comment. It only shows how many people give uninformed opinions! Mr. Mizzi all studies show that streaming is bad and counter productive. And they have been saying so for too long for us to keep ignoring them. Yes discipline is a problem but streaming is not the solution. Do you think that just because there is streaming there is discipline in our schools presently? What if it were your own child, who for some reason, and not because of his lack of ability to learn, ended up in a "low stream" at year 4? Don't you realise that just because he did bad in one exam he would probably stay in a low stream all his life and it would effect his self esteem - for ever?

George Portelli (on 4/9/08)

Streaming is not only done during th e11+ exams. students in junior lyceums and some church schools are being streamed in certain subjects from Form 3 level. Heads of schools are taking the end of year result at form 3 level and they are deciding which students should opt for SEC paper A and for Sec paper B. This is ridiculous as there is still ample time for pupils to make considerable progress. This should be done no more. Remember we re in 2008!!

Marvin Mizzi (on 4/9/08)

If anyone thinks that removing the stream is the solution to our education problem --- then we are in for some trouble. Removing every form of discipline from the schools is the main problem. We are not getting out of school mature men and women but arrogant and indiciplined people. Removing streaming would even make the problem even worse. We are not even protecting those who are willing and capable. We are mixing everyone together ending up in runining the good ones. Lets protect the good one and give special attention to reform and educate the others. We need specialised educate ready to deal with the specific need of the child not mixing every one together.

Pierre Agius (on 4/9/08)

The words of Prof. Wain are true wisdom. Our educational system is grossly lacking. And a look around the country shows how much we have failed. We remain a very defensive people, obese and lazy when it comes to sport. We litter our country and adore politicians and domestic politics. We invested big millions but returns have been too little if at all. this is illogical and the authorities have every right to maintain the status quo. But at the end of the day we are the ones who are missing - look at the ex-communist countries what standards they have attained. I am afraid, however, that by tomorrow, all will have been forgotten. Sad but true.

m.busuttil (on 4/9/08)

About 25 years ago we used to hear Prof.Wain saying exactly the same thing about life-long education at the university -anything new about it?

And right, we do away with formal streaming and have mixed-ability classes.

Will that really put each pupil on an equal level playing field?

Mixed ability classes necessitate diffirent levels of teaching for children with different abilities. Now isn't that streaming within the class????

Joseph Micallef (on 4/9/08)

Speaking of keeping the status quo....Just talk about removing streaming to teachers and you would be surprised how many just shiver at the thought! The negative impact of streaming has been discussed since time immemorial - it was discussed convincingly even during my university years - and that's about 20 years ago! The authorities fear electoral repercussions. Parents want Lyceums - strangely enough! Having said this - till our Educational system stays as it is, based mainly on exams and elitist streaming, it will never produce properly educated people! With the word "educated" here I am meaning the wider meaning of the word - not just academically! As things are we are producing parrots who just repeat what they heard or read by heart - or try to say things that please their teachers - pass exams - and forget all the second they finish their exams! And then they can't think for themselves because they have not been thought to do so. This apart from the cultural aspect of education and physical education which are neglected - to say the least!

Mario H Calleja (on 4/9/08)

I cannot but agree with the appeal to review the system of exams and especially the practice of streaming at an early age. I have been working with youth of all ages for almost 15 years now and I have witnessed many sad stories because of the undue pressure children are subjected to in order to obtain good results in exams. Children need to live their childhood and experience the joy of playing and the outdoors. This is being robbed away from them with serious repercussions later on in their life. They are being stressed out some of them even being prescribed drugs as a remedy. Is this what we want for our children? Is it a matter of education at all costs?

And then there is the matter of Private Lessons. Why is it that our schools are so "inefficient" that we need to send our children to Private Lessons to supplement their learning? This means less time for extracurricular activities and more homeworks. There is much on which to ponder and I ask the educational authorities to consider all repercussions when they make their deliberations. Let us not leave a track of casualties on the way.

d.attard (on 4/9/08)

Life Long learning my foot. Look at our TV fare. Does Government -owned TVM promote life learning? More likely it promotes Government, emotional striptease and a culture having its roots somewhere in the dark ages. No one dares challenge the status quo.

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Education: Authorities urged to review exams and stop streaming

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