End of the line for Junior Lyceum entrance exams

The last Junior Lyceum entrance examination was held yesterday, when 2,991 students tested their years of primary schooling.

Junior Lyceum entrance exams were introduced in 1981 to stream better performing students from others. The exams, sat for by children attending state and several private schools who were about 10 or 11-years-old, represented a major milestone for schoolchildren and the last few years in primary school would be channelled towards passing or acing these exams.

However, the system was “leaving out a lot of children who would not continue studying and develop their full potential,” the Ministry of Education said.

It will now be replaced by a “more inclusive” system along with changes in the national curriculum to “better reach the inclinations and preferences of all children”. In this way, the ministry said, the number of students studying beyond the limit for compulsory schooling would increase.

At first, the Junior Lyceum exam used to test children in maths, English and Maltese. At the time, less than 30 per cent of those who sat for the exam passed. Six years later, however, the number increased to 48 per cent.

In 1988, social studies and religion were added to the examination and, in 1996, half the students passed. Last year, 70 per cent of those who sat for the exam were successful and, this year, social studies was not in the list.

In June next year, a national exam will be introduced at the end of primary school, testing students in maths, English and Maltese. The result will be used to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses; they will, however, keep studying in mixed ability classrooms.