Authorities urged to prepare for influx in Junior Lyceums

The Opposition spokesman for education this morning urged the authorities to make adequate preparations for an increase in the number of Junior Lyceum students in the wake of changes proposed last week.

Evarist Bartolo in a statement noted that the Ministry of Education had announced that pupils who failed just one subject of their Junior Lyceum exam will be able to resit.

He observed that over the past five years, an average of 500 pupils failed one subject.

"There is need for serious planning, lest the children who pass their resits end up not having space and not finding the teachers they need in the Junior Lyceums over the coming two years," Mr Bartolo said.

Referring to the proposals to remove streaming, Mr Bartolo said it was important that teachers were prepared for the change, the schools were adequately resourced and the syllabi were adjusted as necessary, including the assessment of pupils.

He also called for changes at kindergarten level and the first four years of primary school, where streaming has already been removed, saying that half the children are already lagging.