Last Junior Lyceum exam held
2,991 boys and girls from government primary schools sat for the last exam for admission to the Junior Lyceums today.
In terms of the reform announced last year, the exam will from next year be replaced by a National Exam for a smoother transition from primary to secondary school.
The Education Ministry explained that instead of separating the best students from the rest, as was happening at present, the new system would be more inclusive, grouping all the children. The reform would include changes to the national curriculum so as to meet the preferences of all children. In this way, it was hoped that more children would continue to study after secondary school.
The ministry pointed out that when Junior Lyceum exams were introduced in 1981 children used to be examined in Maltese, English and Maths. The pass rate was around 30 per cent. Six years later that had risen to 43.37 per cent. In 1988 the exams were extended to include religion and social studies. By 1996 the pass rate was 50 per cent and it was 70 per cent last year.
The social studies exam will not be held this year, and students who fail one subject will be allowed a resit.
In the National Exam, children will be tested in Maltese, English, and Maths. Maltese and English will include oral tests. Secondary school classes will be mixed ability.
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s muscat
Jun 23rd 2010, 08:45
ghadew lezamijiet tal j.l. u nafu rizultati ta tfal issa nixtieq nistaqsi mistoqsija fuq liskejjel ta tfal , mela is subien ghandom vantag li jekk jimpruvjaw il basic subjects se jitilaw klassi jitalmu ma dawk li ghandom listess livell ezempju tifel qied livel C u wara li jadi mill ezami jitla level B jew A ghax qied flistess skola ma dawk li ghadew ghal junior u hija haga tajba ghax forsi ma kellux cans jadi min kollox fil junior kellu cans jimoruva fi sekondarja issa il bniet kif ha timxi is sistema ghax il bniet min jaddi jmur iz zejtun u min ma jadiex sejer bormla dawn ma jistawx jekk jaddu mil ezamijiet jitilaw ma naha tal junior ghax qedin skejjel diferenti . U din is sena ta lahhar il junior ghalura it tfal taghna li kienu yr 6 u maghdewx min tnejn mhemmx cans li jergu jamluh is sena diehla? ghax qabel it tfal kellhom il yr 7 jew jergu jamluh mil form 1 issa kif sejaghmlu tfal li jixtiequ jergu jamluh ?
Anne Buttigieg
May 7th 2010, 06:51
Jiena ghandi it tifla il hames sena primarja ,din is sena ma sarx streaming fil klassijiet taghhom.
fl opinjoni tieghi din ma qbiltx maghhA .
hemm hafna fatturi li ma naqbilx l ewwel li iz zewg nahat ha jbatu kemm dawk li huma kapaci u anke dawk li mhumiex u ha nghid ghaliex mela sewwa fl ewwel term ta l iskola minnhabba li huma mixed abilities is sillabu kien qieghed issir bil mod sabiex kulhadd jista jifhem imma x gara issa li qeghdin ftit passi l boghod mill ezami annwali liis sillabu ghadu lura u qabdu ritmu taz zwiemel fit tigrija .
min fehem fehem u minn ma fehemx ma fehemx ,jiena nahseb illi il kwantita tat tfal fil klassijiet tghin hafna jekk irridu li jkunu mixed .hemm bzonn li il klassijiet ikunu inqas tfal halli l ghalliem ilahhaq aktar mal bzonnijiet tat tfal .ghax qeghdin f sitwazzjoni li kull tifel jew tifla tal klassi qeghdin ibatu inkella ,Dan qieghda nghidu mhux ghax jiena ghalliema xejn minn dan imma jiena omm li ghandi tfal li ghalija qieghda nhoss mhux qeghdin jiehdu dak kollu li hemm bzonn fit taghlim.
Claire Busuttil
May 6th 2010, 23:44
Just wanting to tell these students, that you have to do you best in the exams, however if you fail, you can still make it in life.....to call proceed to university and get graduated just the same,
Sarah Darmanin
May 6th 2010, 21:50
@ A Schembri
La qieghed titkellem sinjal li ma ghandekx tfal jattendu f'xi skola tal-gvern. Jiena omm u laqghat ta' informazzjoni fuq ir-riforma tal-edukazzjoni attendejt u nsegwi programmi fuq it-TV ukoll. Nisma' hafna nies jippromovu r-riforma u lill-uliedhom ma jibghatuhomx gol famuzi kulleggi tal-gvern. Jekk veru r-riforma daqshekk tajba ghax ma jaghtuniex ezempju b'uliedhom - ghax il-kliem isahhar imma l-ezempju jkaxkar.
M. Mercieca
May 6th 2010, 21:33
As a teacher in a Secondary School, I disagree with the new system of abolishing the Junior Lyceum Exams. The reason behind my thinking comes from my years of experience. Students who consider themselves inferior than others will feel much more inferior when they see their fellow friends succeeding. Moreover students who consider themselves as superior will look at the other students as a hinderance thus resulting in disruption of lessons. The fact that there are "settings" in a school (classifying students in different groups according to ability) in the same building is a total flop and I can confirm this personally. Students in a secondary school have their own qualities and standards which other Junior Lyceum students lack. Let us move on according to the nature of things rather than experimenting. No wonder why teachers who teach in a state school do their utmost no to send their own kids to a state school. No wonder why the sons/daughters of prominent people in our country (no need to specify) attend a church/private school.
Maria Attard
May 6th 2010, 21:13
@Joe Agius
"In a lot of private schools children with different abilities are put in same class...those children who want to learn are still able to do so."
Your argument does not hold cause in private schools "streaming" has taken place before children have actually started to attend school. It took place the day their parents enrolled them. Who are the people who send their children to private schools? Professionals and others who work hard because they have education at heart. This is not the case in government schools where their is a wider spectrum, from parents who do their utmost to educate their children to others who do not give a single bother, not to mention the social and behavioural problems of a good number of pupils. It is not a problem of mixed abilities but of mixed cultures especially in some colleges.
Mind you all those who applauded the reform send their OWN kids to church or private schools. If this reform is such a good piece of chocolate, why don't they give it to their own kids first?
Randolph Said
May 6th 2010, 20:52
This system will surely have a negative effect on children. The examinations should have been kept. However the people involved in designing the syllabus for such examinations should really be ashamed of theirselves. We've got 10 year old kids in Malta suffering from DEPRESSION due to the amount of pressure put on them to pass such exams. The level of detail and knowledge these exams require is not what is expected from a 10 year old but probably 12 or 13. Where in the world are 10 year old kids examined on how many quotes from the bible they know. My son is sitting for these exams this year and up to last Friday he was coming home with loads of homework to do before he could start his revision. Foreigners laugh at us when they see such things happening in our country.
J. Agius
May 6th 2010, 20:39
Taking away the healthy amount of competition that was left in the government schools. I have gone through the junior lyceum system myself, and i do not feel traumatized for having done so. 20 out of the 25 people in my form 5 class room are at university reading for a degree. Why? because we where taught that nobody is going to give you his seat if his seat is better. Can you tell me why we are allowing our spoilt-rotten youth to be further content with mediocrity? Once you leave school life will be competitive, and one cannot hide from it. 6th form is tough and university even tougher, no body is going to tell you 'miskina' over there.
Whoever did this reform has forgotten what being a teenage girl felt like. You will want to do what the majority of peers are doing, fitting in is more important than anything, so can anybody tell me, what would be the result of having 50% of the students not giving a damn about school and obsessed in becoming bimbos?
Roderick Marmara
May 6th 2010, 20:34
Welcome to the End of high educational level in Malta !!! Why we never learn from other countries' mistakes. The Educational system in the UK is a mess for this reason !!!!
J. Vella
May 6th 2010, 20:33
@ Sue Privitelli. Your comment shows that you know nothing about how state schools work in Malta. Childer in the secondary sector are put into classes (oh, but not streamed!!!) depending on their marks in a choosen subject. Apart from that, they join classes according to their exam performance in Maths, English and Maltese. Before telling others they know nothing about education, do some research yourself.
J. Agius
May 6th 2010, 20:33
Taking away the healthy amount of competition that was left in the government schools. I have gone through the junior lyceum system myself, and i do not feel traumatized for having done so. 20 out of the 25 people in my form 5 class room are at university reading for a degree. Why? because we where taught that nobody is going to give you his seat if his seat is better. Can you tell me why we are allowing our spoilt-rotten youth to be further content with mediocrity? Once you leave school life will be competitive, and one cannot hide from it. 6th form is tough and university even tougher, no body is going to tell you 'miskina' over there.
Whoever did this reform has forgotten what being a teenage girl felt like. If during break time, you will want to do what the majority of peers are doing, fitting in is more important than anything, so can anybody tell me, what would be the result of having 50% of the students not giving a damn about school and obsessed in becoming bimbos?
B. Cachia
May 6th 2010, 20:33
The message we're giving to these kids is: 'It doesn't matter if you don't work hard - the outcome for you in life will be the same'. They'll experience a rude shock when they leave school and enter the real world. To be fair, one must say that this is through no fault of the promoters of such systems, as they usually tend to be the types who would want to apply a socialist system in society as a whole and not just in the school system.
By the way, Western countries, many of which have experimented with education systems that do away with streaming and incentives, are now reaping high youth unemployment and an inability to compete with the rising Asian economies, which have stuck to a more sensible approach.
J. Agius
May 6th 2010, 20:24
Taking away the healthy amount of competition that was left in the government schools. I have gone through the junior lyceum system myself, and i do not feel traumatized for having done so. 20 out of the 25 people in my form 5 class room are at university reading for a degree. Why? because we where taught that nobody is going to give you his seat if his seat is better. Can you tell me why we are allowing our spoilt-rotten youth to be further content with mediocrity? Once you leave school life will be competitive, and one cannot hide from it. 6th form is tough and university even tougher, no body is going to tell you 'miskina' over there.
Whoever did this reform has forgotten what being a teenage girl felt like. If during break time, you will want to do what the majority of peers are doing, fitting in is more important than anything, so can anybody tell me, what would be the result of having 50% of the students not giving a damn about school and obsessed in becoming bimbos?
Y.Vella
May 7th 2010, 08:58
How i do agree with you!!! Life is full of competition... i cannot understand why all the fuss about the JL exams... there are stages in life with doses of stress... why isn't it positive that a child learns that he or she needs to work hard to attain something... year 6 is stage 1, form 5 is stage 2, post secondary is stage 3, university higher stress and maybe a post tertiary course leads you to become abused by some patriarch man!!! Oh come on... you cannot learn to live through all this if not practicing from a young age that you have to work hard to get good results. Well said J.Agius
Albert J Mifsud
May 6th 2010, 20:18
This approach is madness. Just learn from Britain which ditched grammar schools and selection many years ago. As a result, educational standards have plummeted despite massive investment, which has all been proved to be a waste of money. Clever kids should be educated together, moderately bright kids together, and the less committed or less capable, also together. This way, bright and keen kids are encouraged by their peers and run far less of a risk of being distracted and dragged down. Malta seems to be heading the same way as Britain. God help us.
Mauro Cilia
May 6th 2010, 20:06
Why dont we just let 10 year olds ENJOY LEARNING instead of giving them all this stress? I believe that some stress is good for the mind (All ages), but this amount of stress for a 10 yeard old, in my opinion is too much. Someone please correct me if im wrong.
Antonella Gili
May 6th 2010, 20:01
Sue Privitelli you are right! Teachers in church school and private schools have mixed ability classes. It is more difficult to teach such classes but there are advantages as well. I pity these children who stress themselves because of the junior exam....they shouldn't go through it! I agree 100% with the removal of this exam. Education was being focused on this exam and that is wrong! Of course time needs to pass until the new system really kicks in and god knows how many people will critisize it...but i trust it will help our kids to enjoy education more.
Gerard Cassar
May 6th 2010, 19:38
Students that according to their school performance ought not have passed the entrance exam were all the same seen through obtaining the lower marks but all the same a pass mark.What happened? Writing from experience. A high percentage increase in private lessons will be the consequence.
m deguara
May 6th 2010, 19:24
Year in year out the education department keeps experimenting and trying out new systems at the expense of our children's eduction!!! I wonder how long this new system will last before they realise that it has been a huge mistake!!!
Gerard Cassar
May 6th 2010, 19:13
The correspondent who wrote the report is not aware that the entrance examination has been going on for several weeks already and will end at end of May. In a couple of years time people will be clamouring fo the reinstatement of the entrance examination. Streaming will be a flop. Is selection for entrance to the University will be done by streaming too? What has been proved to be right for tens of years of experience is now considered as a flop or rather unjust!.
Joe Agius
May 6th 2010, 19:05
I think teachers will find it a bit more challenging to teach a class with mixed abilities and intelligence, but after all, this new system will be presenting equal opportunities for all children. In a lot of private primary schools children with different abilities are put in the same class, it has always been like that. Those children who want to learn are still able to do so provided that the teacher is able to control the class.
Sue Privitelli
May 6th 2010, 18:43
@Smith/Dimech/ Mifsud/Borg : your comments show that you do not know anything about education. Streaming has been erradicated from all Europe so much so that it has almost become a dirty word in education. ALL benefit from mixed ability classes, and research has proven this over and over again. It makes things harder for the teacher of course, but then since when was teaching an easy job? So please leave such matters to the experts. I had absolutely nothing to do with the reforms but a BIG well done to the authorities who had the gutts to go for change and stop traumatising kids at such a tender age !
E Camilleri
May 6th 2010, 19:26
Ms Privitelli it is very obvious that you have never taught/experienced a mixed-ability class, like I have... How can the teacher physically cater for a student much ahead of his level and at the same time help another who does not even know the 2times table, PLUS A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF ABILITIES BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES...?! Such a system is absolutely inefficient; in fact setting (streaming within a subject) is to be introduced (unfortunately in the three basic subjects only). My heart goes out to the other subject teachers. On the other hand I agree with Mr Agius about the importance of controlling the class, something which is becoming much more difficult every year...
G. Portelli
May 6th 2010, 19:59
Sue Privitelli I am informed that in state primary schools children from Form 1 level onwards will be in a setting class for Maths, English, Maltese and IT. So please answer the following statements:
1. Isn't this the new word used instead of streaming?
2. This system can't be used in small schools like church schools. So they are now greatly disadvantaged.
3. This system may cater for the poor ones but what about the very good ones?
Last thing: This system was criticised heavily by university experts so you really have GUTS to give it thumbs up - maybe you do not have children or your children are already in one of the renowned schools for the elite.
B. Cachia
May 6th 2010, 20:44
@Sue Privitelli: I was wondering whether you acquired your impeccable English spelling in a mixed ability class or in a traditional one.
cbugeja
May 7th 2010, 07:45
Will the "church schools exam"still be held?If yes it will result in an even greater creaming off!They will definetly get the kids with the best potential,and i specifically said best potential not best kids.All we have to do is see if the system has worked in otrher countries.Also,imagine of for example,the Chairman of Air Malta never flew Air Malta!!Well that is equivalent to what happens in our educational system.How many people of professional grade in the \Education Dept send their children to state schools?In other countries that is also a political issue,if you present yourself for public service,you have to use your own product.
A. Schembri
May 6th 2010, 18:36
Reading the comments below, I am amazed how many experts there are in Malta. Pity they are not being consulted as from what is commented, one tends to conclude that they know it all. Why don't they contest the election to become the final decision makers or else open a consultancy firm in education and consult with the education department. What a wate of resources... Paroli, paroli u aktar paroli. L'aqwa illi imaqdru u nikkritikaw. Zgur nigu l-ewwwel hawn Malta jekk ikon hawn olimpjadi tat tmaqdir u kritika negattiva. Gold medal forsi anke jivvintawilna xi platinum medal !
n mifsud
May 6th 2010, 18:42
nixtieq li kieku nista nghid bhalek A.Schembri, imma meta jkollok tifel yr6 u ma tafx x'se jigri sena ohra zgur ma tibqax tahsiba listess!!
A. Borg
May 6th 2010, 18:51
Li se jkun hemm tajjeb fiha hija li t-tfal se jibqghu flimkien imma daqshekk biss. Li taghti l-opinjoni tieghek ma nahsibx li jkun paroli fil-vojt. Inkella nispiccaw fi stat Kommunista u nghidu biss "Proset ghat-tghaffiga li se taghmel".
John Smith
May 6th 2010, 18:55
I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm qualified enough in the field to say that the system will have a negative effect on childrens' education. Wait and see.
John Smith
May 6th 2010, 18:25
Something everyone should know is the fact that those who are introducing this new scholastic system don't have children in state schools, but in private schools. They are ruining most childrens' education...except theirs. The college system has failed throughout all Europe!! They are implementing the system without any consultation at all and most professionals in the education division such as Heads, teachers, LSAs and others are all against this new system.
A. Borg
May 6th 2010, 18:18
Ma naqbilx ma din is-sistema ghax nahseb li l-livell se jitbaxxa ghax iktar facli li t-tajjeb imur lura milli l-batut immur il-quddiem. Opinjoni tieghi u forsi zbaljat.
n mifsud
May 6th 2010, 18:33
jien naqbel mieghek 100% . wisq qed nibza li meta ha jsib ruhu fi klassi imhalta ha jaqa lura ghax ikun hemm min ikollu aktar attenzjoni min lohrajn u it tajbin jaqaw lura umbad. ahajr baqa kollox kif kien la il persentagg kien dejjem qed jikber!! imsiken it tfal tana li ha jibdew bijom mis sena dihla ghax ma nafx x'ihu gej !!!
marthese mussett
May 6th 2010, 22:04
Naqbel mieghek jien ukoll,ghax allura nghid jien,hawn min ghandu 10 o levels u ma dahalx 6th form ghax ma kellux il matematika,per ezempju.Allura issa jkollna nqallbu din is sistema wkoll,halli nkunu fair ma kulhadd?Jien nahseb anka din is sistema tal kulleggi,nara xi cirkolari ta l iskola bl isem tal kullegg miktub ukoll naraha stramba.
John Ebejer
May 7th 2010, 07:16
Hafna ghalliema jaqblu mieghek ... imma l-ghalliema m'ghandhomx 'say' fuqha l-haga ... din giet imposta fuqhom minn fuq. U allahares ghalliem illum jiftah halqu fuq din il-haga ghax jikkunsidrawh konservattiv u mhux all'avanguardia.
n mifsud
May 6th 2010, 18:10
jien ghandi it tifel yr 6 u lesta lezamijiet tal junior ilum. issa dan dejjem mar tajjeb f'kull suggett. ghallura mis sena diehla ha jkollu il batuti mieghu biex itelfu u jwaqqaw lura it tajbin?? ahjar baqa kollox kif kien ghax tahwid gej!!!
J.Borg
May 6th 2010, 17:52
"The ministry pointed out that when Junior Lyceum exams were introduced in 1981 children used to be examined in Maltese, English and Maths. The pass rate was around 30 per cent. Six years later that had risen to 43.37 per cent. In 1988 the exams were extended to include religion and social studies. By 1996 the pass rate was 50 per cent and it was 70 per cent last year." Does this show that maltese children have become more brilliant or is it because the pass mark was lowered? So, now we can say bye bye to Junior Lyceums and nice to see you back Secondary Schools.....
joe borg
May 6th 2010, 17:46
what a wast of time and money as they are all gonna end up in the same schools, excellent resource management.