Guiding light in education development

My good friend, colleague and mentor Christopher Bezzina has very recently been granted associate professor status by the University of Malta. I am writing to publicly congratulate him for this new recognition of his academic worth.

I have known Prof. Bezzina throughout my professional life and have collaborated with him on a number of projects, from the development of the first set of Maltese theme-based resources for primary schools, to that of a national school internal review mechanism to spur on reflexive action by school communities.

His faith in the power of schools to be in charge of their own process of improvement has been a guiding light in Maltese education development for the last 20 years. His research and training are recognised internationally. Prof. Bezzina straddled the divide between theory and practice. Rather than remaining an ivory tower theorician or an armchair critic, he was ready to engage in the struggle and the grind, the give and take of transforming visionary ideas into sustainable reality in Malta's classrooms and schools. The educational change processes he initiated were entirely consistent with his practice as Director and Permanent Secretary. They were founded on his belief that real transformation started from a human encounter, not simply an administrative decision.

I have no doubt that Prof. Bezzina's new status will enhance his ability to be of service to educational leaders and institutions. Whatever his role, those who truly value his worth will look forward to his continued contribution in the future. Whether this is in effective teacher training for tomorrow's classrooms, in the moulding of educational leaders for tomorrow's schools, in supporting school improvement or indeed in other areas, Prof. Bezzina's participation will bring us closer to our goal of ensuring that all learners in Malta fulfil their educational entitlement.