MUT calls for smaller classes, review of syllabi
The Malta Union of Teachers has voiced concern over a shortage of teachers in certain categories.
In a message to mark World Teachers' Day, MUT President John Bencini said that globalization has forced governments to recognize the importance of quality education; it is on the lips of every political leader; it is reaffirmed in every summit communique.
Maltese teachers, he said, are amongst the best.
"However, the MUT is still concerned that in certain areas and in certain subjects there is still a shortage of fully qualified teachers. The Primary Sector is a case in point. Only 12 Primary School teachers graduated from University this year. This has constrained the authorities to employ ‘Supply teachers’."
He said that many more teachers in this sector may graduate next year.
But all teaching grades in Malta would be facing new challenges as the new reform on the transition from Primary to Secondary is now underway.
"This necessitates the importance of differentiated learning which will only be a success if it is complemented with a significant reduction in the maximum number of students in each class. The MUT augurs that the authorities should plan in advance to ascertain that an adequate teacher-student ratio is in place."
Mr Bencini said an urgent review of syllabi in the Primary and Secondary levels was also needed.
World Teachers' Day will be marked tomorrow.
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Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 6th 2010, 18:53
So first MUT goes overboard recommending mixed ability classes, comprehensive school systems and other even more perverse measures in its utter crap of a Memorandum to Political Parties found here:
http://www.mut.org.mt/pressrel.htm and when it gets its way it has the cheek to ask for smaller classes – WHICH DO NOT BENEFIT MOST AVERAGE AND GIFTED CHILDREN BECAUSE SMALLER CLASSES ONLY BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH CERTAIN SPECIAL NEEDS.
The very last thing that one ought to consider is adopting smaller classes “across the board”. What ought and indeed should be done is for politicians of all political parties - and several others such as so-called Education specialists and consultants - to swallow their extremely overabundant pride, conceit and obstinacy and immediately re-introduce regular tests, exams and school streaming and class setting strictly according to a child’s/student’s academic ability and maturity and not to children’s chronological age. It is only children with certain special needs such as attention deficiency and lower intelligence that really benefit from smaller classes because such children need far more professional adult attention and so a high teacher-to-pupil ratio is called for.
Conversely so-called “average” and “gifted” children benefit most from much larger ......(to be continued).
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 6th 2010, 18:50
(post continued) ....classes having around 15-30 pupils per class because such children need to learn from as many other children as possible and to socialize with a good number of children more than they need a teacher’s individual attention – so long as they are in a class appropriate to their abilities. If there are children with physical disabilities (but no attention or intelligence deficiencies) who need to be in a class with pupils of average or gifted abilities than the authorities should seriously consider employing a nurse/personal needs carer to assist such children but certainly not the average run-of-the-mill Learning Support Assistant because (from my own personal experience and observation) sooner or later LSAs invariably end up interfering with a teacher’s lesson plan - if not metaphorically leading the teacher by the hand and nose (or some other more private and intimate appendage as in certain not-so-rare cases where certain arrogant and persistent female LSAs ended up making downright fools of certain male teachers) to their own much lower level of education and class teaching ability. LSAs can only be of benefit if they behave impeccably well and do not interfere in teachers’ work or private lives.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 6th 2010, 18:49
(post continued) ....classes having around 15-30 pupils per class because such children need to learn from as many other children as possible and to socialize with a good number of children more than they need a teacher’s individual attention – so long as they are in a class appropriate to their abilities. If there are children with physical disabilities (but no attention or intelligence deficiencies) who need to be in a class with pupils of average or gifted abilities than the authorities should seriously consider employing a nurse/personal needs carer to assist such children but certainly not the average run-of-the-mill Learning Support Assistant because (from my own personal experience and observation) sooner or later LSAs invariably end up interfering with a teacher’s lesson plan - if not metaphorically leading the teacher by the hand and nose (or some other more private and intimate appendage as in certain not-so-rare cases where certain arrogant and persistent female LSAs ended up making downright fools of certain male teachers) to their own much lower level of education and class teaching ability. LSAs can only be of benefit if they behave impeccably well and do not interfere in teachers’ work or private lives.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 6th 2010, 18:47
I would hazard a guess that the real reason why "Only 12 Primary School teachers graduated from University this year" is because of the introduction of gross mixed ability classes in state primary schools. However much one may try to sugar perverse practices, it is NOT a challenge to try to teach a mixed ability class, it is not even a nightmare…it is pure masochism for teachers who really want each and every child in a mixed ability class to really learn and achieve as much as each child is really capable of and not merely as much as the "everage" of the rest of the class. Of course, it is relatively just a piece of cake for teachers who merely want to go along with the flow, keep themselves out of trouble and just diligently obey the Education Department’s most popular and overused but totally perverse buzz phrase and “teach” children to “learn to wait for others to catch up”.
Marvic Psaila
Oct 4th 2010, 21:28
If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 30 people in his/her office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn’t want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he/she might have some conception of the classroom teacher’s job. - Donald D. Quinn
Happy Teachers Day to all Teachers.......Thanks for making us what we are today.
J.Tonna
Oct 4th 2010, 20:42
What do these people want. To undermine education??? First they say that there are not enought teacher and now they are saying that they should have smaller classes. In our time we used to be 30 or over in every class and we have many professors of our age. Why don't they stay at home and the salary will be sent directly to their bank account??
G. Camilleri
Oct 4th 2010, 21:26
May I ask J. Tonna whether he really knows what differentiated learning is all about. It is clear that he does not. If he did he would not have written what he did. Now that we will all be facing mixed ability classes, smaller classes would benefit the students. MUT is completely correct. After all these people know what they are talking about because they are teachers. Sur Tonna dawn l-affarijiet hallihom ghal min jifhem please!
mary borg
Oct 4th 2010, 21:38
Yes i do remember!! That was the time when children where sometimes given detentions, smacks, copies, punishments etc etc. Now kids/parents come to school with the idea that they rule the place!! Not that i agree with certain punishments, but nowadays kids are more restless......maybe due to the fact that tv, video games, psp, etc, are all used as babysitters, instead of quality time with their parents! And children are getting so bored of reading a book and paying attention during lessons, that they need innovative audio visual aids every minute!!
A Caruana
Oct 4th 2010, 21:55
Are you certain that your comment is not simply part of the anti-teacher/teacher hatred campaign some people are on about?? Do you really think that the education you received was optimal? Wouldn't our children benefit from smaller classes? Would this be to the teacher's benefit or to the students'?
Franco Farrugia
Oct 4th 2010, 22:07
@ J. Tonna: You don't know what you are talking about. If you want to teach teachers how to run their classes, I suggest you get yourself adequately qualified and then go teaching and be a good example to your colleagues. Until then, ... shhhhh!
R.spiteri
Oct 5th 2010, 06:16
Very well said Mr.Tonna.We were 30 pupils with severe mixed abilities including a boy with Down Syndrome another with very severe Global Delay and only God knows how many more would have a statement, like these days have, ADD ADHD Shorter Memory and so on.And till 3.45 and WITHOUT an L.S.A. These days a class with18 pupils a teacher and 2 L.S.A`s.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 6th 2010, 19:23
@A Caruana
It is only children with certain very specific special needs such as attention deficiency and relatively lower intelligence that benefit from smaller classes. Children labeled "normal" to "gifted" would actually be hampered and developmentally and socially handicapped if they are in a class with less than 15-30 students because the latter type of students need to learn from other children with a similar level of maturity and ability even more than they need to be babied with individual attention from the teacher. And gross mixed ability classes all year round do not benefit teachers or any type of students. Children should not spend more than 4 hours per week in a mixed ability class i.e. just enough to realise that there are huge variations in people's characters, abilities, gifts, limits, problems, desires, disabilities etc. and that they should learn to get along reasonable well with almost everybody WITHOUT LETTING ANYBODY SLOW DOWN THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN AS MUCH AND AS FAST AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN - that is why they should spend the rest of the school week in diligently streamed classes according to their academic ability and maturity as measured by regular tests/assessment/exams/classwork.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 4th 2010, 20:03
@ Mr Bugeja - The idea of education is to be holistic. You are very wrong in downplaying the importance of Geography, especially in today's world! Quite the contrary, sir, this subject should be more underlined and given prominence! And you are simply mistaken in downplaying the study of our Maltese language! So, you think that everyone and his granny should be trained instead of educated? But that is what you are saying! First and foremost, a person has to be educaed in a humanitarian way, then, be trained for work. Otherwise we will be producing robots wreaking of oil, instead of humn beings endowed with the goodness of humanity.
M Bugeja
Oct 4th 2010, 21:15
What I am saying is that most people do not give two hoots about having a holistic education; they are simply not interested in it. This is like the SOK debate - I for one, would have rather been given the opportunity to get a 3rd A lvl (and strengthen my career paths instead of it.
Maltese is, unfortunately, not that important. I can only speak for myself as I fall under the faculty of science, but with us, anything other than English or Mathematics (yes it becomes a sort of language), is useless.
Of course, it is important for people to be able to write in their own language, but the reality is that there are people who haven't written or spoken a word in Maltese in years. Please, do inform me how Geography, as taught at SEC level, or better still, knowledge of the bible, is going to help me solve organic reactions.
My point is that people should be given a choice - rather than have have half the subjects taught on the islands crammed down their throats, they should be given a deeper education in the ones they choose.
M.cachia
Oct 4th 2010, 21:43
You know Mr. Farrugia - I often disagree with your comments, but I must say this time I agree with you a 100%. Education must be holistic, what are we without our History and Culture - nothing but mindless dregs. Science not important?? all subjects are important in an education; and one would hope that today's children get an education, not training.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 4th 2010, 20:01
@ Mr Jeremy Lanfranco - Times change, students change with them and so do methods, sir. In your time, there was a certain regime of discipline and methodology of learning that today is passe'. Hence the need for smaller classes. Where there are smaller classes, there is much more individual attention given and so, parents, and students, should be in favour of this as much as the teachers are - the best thing is that classes can be held in an informal setting, less time wasted on discipline, and more time dedicated to work at hand. What's wrong with that? @ Ms Josephine Bonnici - LIke every other profession, yes, there are teachers and teachers. But it doesn't mean that the students are being 'ruined'. I think you are painting a very bleak picture in general.
M Bugeja
Oct 4th 2010, 19:49
A reform in syllabi is much needed, especially in secondary school, where students are forced to assimilate a lot of knowledge which would be academically useless to them in sixth form - for example, beyond 5th form, I have never once found a use for anything learned during history, geography, social studies, religion (more like catholicism with a general overview in 15 mins about a selection of the other major belief systems) etc etc. The obligatory study of Maltese is also to debatable, as, with most scientific subjects, it is beyond useless. Perhaps all this excess baggage could be traded in, should it be possible to choose a career earlier on (similar to what IBM are planning to do in the US - having people emerge from school with a computer science degree) - it would be much more beneficial to have, say, more maths and physics instead of religion and geography for a budding engineer.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Oct 4th 2010, 22:07
@ M Bugeja
“it would be much more beneficial to have, say, more maths and physics instead of religion and geography for a budding engineer”
As an electrical engineer myself I think it would be more useful for EVERYBODY to have more maths and physics but definitely NOT at the expense of other subjects. I am fifty years old and the worse engineers and technicians I know are the ones so one track minded on maths and physics ONLY that they seriously lack creativity, analytical ability and the capacity to apply what they know in the practical world. In to-days world – more now than ever before - one needs to be a generalist as well as a specialist and not just because demand for different professions and the job market itself changes so rapidly.
P. Camilleri
Oct 5th 2010, 10:13
At Mr Bugeja, Will you please stop degrading geography?!Please note that Geographical Processes intertwine with biology, chemistry and physics. One science cannot exist without the other, they all run into each other at one point or another, hence biogeography, biochemistry, physical geography! Geography is not about Countries and their Capital Cities! Unfortunately in Malta geography still fall under the Faculty of Arts and is still not considered as a Science.
Emmanuel Caruana
Oct 4th 2010, 19:42
How professional of you Mr. Bencini, you had all the time in the world to suggest this you bring it out now after the schools have already started.
Josephine Bonnici
Oct 4th 2010, 19:19
Certain teachers are there for money, to lose time and playing around. Then once in a while they say we need an increase in our wage. I suggest that both governmental and private schools/insitutes pay a lot of attention who do they employ - keeping in mind the students and to do everything possible to help them out not ruining them.
J. Borg
Oct 4th 2010, 19:35
Are you serious Josephine Bonnici? Some people think that it is very simple to be wise. They just think of something stupid to say and write it down. Anyways, you are good in fiction writing. Keep it up!
James De Giorgio
Oct 4th 2010, 20:55
josephine your argument doesn't hold water.
Bl-istess argument, it's the parents' fault for what is happening to our children. Tghid mhux they're being ruined in class!!
Charity begins at home hi
John Smith
Oct 4th 2010, 18:47
About time! How can a teacher cope with 25 individuals in the same class and give the same amount of attention to all of them...especially with the new educational reform where students who aim to do the sec exams are placed in the same class with those who still have to learn the alphabet...and unfortunately this is the reality...wake up people!!
Jeremy Lanfranco
Oct 4th 2010, 19:15
Quote "How can a teacher cope with 25 individuals in the same class and give the same amount of attention to all of them"(End of quote) I was taught in classes of 30 and 35 between 1968 to 1980 and still graduated without problems. If today's teachers according to Mr Bencini are amongst the best, what were my past teachers supposed to be? Superhumans?
P.Zammit
Oct 4th 2010, 19:22
Probably!! Low ability students can never succeed in large classes. If you succeeded, it's because you were an average to above average student and probably very good teachers as well.
James De Giorgio
Oct 4th 2010, 20:57
Sur jeremy,
in the past, students in your class were probably streamed according to ability, AND were not as spoilt as they are now, hence more prone to wanting to learn and succeed in life because you knew what hardship meant in 1968.
Today it's a different picture, with all kinds of abilities in the same classroom so as to be politically correct.
Now we know what will happen, education will go the way of the dogs and teachers will be blamed for it
J Farrugia
Oct 4th 2010, 17:35
He has had ample time to discuss these issued PRIOR to the signing of the recent agreement. This man is not affidable. In the past he signed a deal with Minister Louis Galea and came out shouting the greatest agreement for the teaching profession, and then a few months later he came all out against the same agreement he had signed with much fanfare. Once again he signed another agreement on high salaries for the teaching profession with Minister crisina and NOW, once again this unaffidable man is shouting that he wants amendments to the agreement. How about that for a stupid union. Is this his last stand before retirement? leaving this once golden union the MUT in shambles?
J.Borg
Oct 4th 2010, 18:44
Ghax ma tidholx int floku....forsi tghamel xi haga ahjar. Hawn Malta hlif immaqdru ma namlux u ma nithajjrux nohorgu ahna ghal certu pozizzjonijiet.