Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Attendance at private lessons soars
Some students in a local study saw a conflict between private tuition and schoolwork.
Malta’s infatuation with private tuition was clearly manifested yesterday, as a European Commission study warned about the repercussions of after-school lessons.
The private lessons industry in Malta has become almost “crucial” for Maltese students, even in cases where it is evident they are not necessary, the report released in Brussels shows.
The study concludes that private lessons are having negative effects on students as they restrict children’s leisure time in a way that is “psychologically and educationally undesirable”.
The EU-wide study shows that Maltese students are third in the category of those that attend extra lessons, and this trend has continued to surge during the past 10 years.
Greek and Cypriot students take even more private tuition than Malta. On the other hand, students from the northern countries of Europe rarely attend extra tutoring outside their normal schooling hours. The EU study, Private Tutoring And Its Implications For Policymakers In The EU, shows that in 2008, almost 78 per cent of Maltese fourth and fifth formers attended some kind of private lessons. Less than 10 years before, in 1999, this percentage stood at 50.5 per cent.
The research shows that among those who attended private tuition, the majority, 56.1 per cent, went to at least three hours of private lessons per week, while 34.4 per cent attended between four to six hours a week.
In what are considered to be “extreme” cases, 7.2 per cent sat for more than 10 hours a week in private classrooms apart from their normal time at school.
Among the most popular subjects for private lessons are maths, physics, English and Maltese, although these vary according to the students’ background and gender.
“Proportions of pupils receiving help in maths were roughly equal across schools, reflecting its general importance, but English was more popular among pupils in state schools while Maltese was more popular among pupils in private schools,” the study says.
This reflected the fact that private school students already spoke much English at school and home, but relatively little Maltese, while for government schools the opposite was the case.
The study notes that, in the private sector, girls were more likely than boys to receive tutoring in chemistry and biology, while boys were more likely to receive tutoring in computer studies.
The study confirms that high-stake exams, particularly to obtain Matsec certificates at the end of fifth and sixth forms, is the main contributor to the private lesson culture and that “curricular pressures” are also evident.
“Teachers feel that they must finish the syllabus at all costs and that, since this does not permit the sort of individual attention and revisiting of weakly-covered concepts that they would like, supplementary tutoring may be desirable for some pupils,” the study says.
Apart from getting their certificates there may be other “non-academic” reasons for students seeking private lessons.
“Most teenagers go to single-sex schools but attend co-educational tutoring classes and are therefore able to mix in these settings with the other sex. Other reasons might be to please parents. Parents send students to private lessons in order to feel that they are doing all they can to help them. It is probably the case that [at least some] local students attend private lessons even when there is no real need.”
Excerpt from study on private tuition
A qualitative study by Gauci and Wetz (2009) provides insights into the challenges faced by young people, especially when they reach the season of high-stakes examinations.
All the students in the sample who were receiving tutoring complained about stress and the loss of time for leisure activities, though they appeared resigned to the fact that Grade 11 (Form 5) is a tough year in which they had to make sacrifices.
At the same time, some students saw conflicts with their school work. One, who was content to attend private lessons, said: “Most days I do not manage to finish my homework and this worries me because I want to improve and I know that I am not going to improve if I do not do my homework.”
Another said he was facing a “terrible” dilemma: “I much prefer my school teacher’s lessons and the methods she uses. However, I feel safer by continuing to attend my private lessons. I am afraid of stopping… it probably does help me a bit because I will continue going.”
These remarks suggest that Malta had reached a point at which it was not considered “normal” to abstain from private tutoring.
However, there were exceptions. Two students in a class of 18 did not receive tutoring. One confidently said: “As long as I do well and understand my teacher at school then I am not worried. Also if I have difficulty in class I always ask and [the teacher] explains again to me. I am not afraid that we will not finish the syllabus at school as in the past they always finished it… and therefore there is no reason why this year it should be any different.”
This student went on to score the top grade in exams, though her classmate who did not receive private tutoring scored below the predicted grade.
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Mrs Myriam Vella
Jun 1st 2011, 11:38
…and what about private lessons classes with between 20 – 30 students per session?? This is blatant breaching of the law, which has been going on unharnessed for years on end...Private classes should not hold more than eight to nine students per class as otherwise they are making a mockery of the word ‘private’! For many people this has become a money-making home industry!
Education authority please pull in the reins of this widespread abuse as this is an added expense on the already tightly-stretched pocket strings of parents who are ready to undertake any sacrifice for the betterment of their offspring. Besides, peer pressure compels Jane to attend such lessons because Amy and Carla and Ruth and Sarah (and the majority of their classmates) are doing it!
I believe that most schoolteachers do an excellent job in controlled classes and most students fully understand the lessons given as such. However the syllabi are way too vast and it is the constant revision to remember all the topics of all the different subjects learnt throughout the scholastic year that is the real problem. We are a nation of bigheads resulting in a colossal amount of stress /tensions– both psychological and financial – on students and their families
Once more Education Authority please take note…. Slash the blessed syllabus by half – especially since sports, creativity and leisure are being given so much importance in schools (and so they should!)
Another huge problem is the new ‘independence’ our young are being made to face - with both parents having to be away at work to give the family a comfortable lifestyle… The highest price is being paid by our youngsters … sometimes children as young as nine! A growing number of these youngsters are (very sadly!) latchkey children with no supervision whatsoever daily, for hours on end. No matter how well-meaning these youngsters are – precious time is wasted on telephone calls – or chatting on their computers (to/with classmates they have just been at school with!) or watching television…
Lately, much talk has been going on from all sides about strengthening our families. Isn't it time the state, church and private schools get their thinking caps on and come up with some sort of solution to really help keep our families strong? – It is stress of one kind or another that is breaking our marriages! And private lessons are definitely an added stress! Who knows –maybe, after school sessions of studying/homework supervision for such students could be organized. In past times we had continuation classes after school hours…
Before anyone pounces on me – this is just an idea( but a decidedly worthwhile one, I think).
Victor Pulis
May 31st 2011, 18:46
Ms D Galea
Today, 11:03
Teachers in the rest of the EU do not get three whole months of fully paid summer holidays.
Ms. Galea how about attending some maths private lessons yourself? if you think 12th July to 23rd September constitute three months you need basic maths lessons.
Mr Charles camilleri
May 31st 2011, 15:27
The number of schooldays is approx. 172six hr days and it is obvious that this is a short period to cover the whole syllabus. It also affords enough time for teachers to indulge in private lessons.
The irony of it all is that teachers find all type excuses to justify the number of their working day/hours, but then find not problems giving extra private lessons.
The number of school days has some day to be rectify to make more in line with other workers days especially now that mothers are increasing joining the workforce. Unless this is done everything else is just a waste of effort.
V Vella
May 31st 2011, 18:19
Oh please, I assure you that it is a small number of teachers who give huge amounts of private lessons and give the rest a bad name. I've taught in 3 state schools in 10 years and can confirm that teachers who teach privately are only a small percentage.
Victor Rodenas
May 31st 2011, 20:08
Who said that evading Income tax and Vat is moraly wrong and doing it every year amounts to a grave sin,oh I forgot that we practice a pick and choose religion.......
Mr Carmel Portelli
May 31st 2011, 15:02
How many teachers declare earnings from private lessons? Most of them are known, how come they never issue a fiscal receipt.
Mr Joseph E Briffa
May 31st 2011, 12:13
One reason why students go for private tuition is that in class they do not and at times cannot pay attention because some students are so badly behaved that they create chaos. In Malta there is hardly any discipline at schools, particularly in state schools. This is the result of bad upbringing at home.In my time you would not expect your parents to stand up for you - the maxim was that teachers were always right and you were always in the wrong. Today, teachers do not get any support from most parents who lacking education themselves stand up for their children and line up against teachers. Teachers therefore give up trying to discipline these badly brought-up students with the resulting chaos in class. The other students are obviously distracted and benefit very little from class lessons and have perforce to resort to private tuition.This situation is not solely confined to state schools but also pervades in private schools. In northern Europe this behaviour is not tolerated in schools; moreover students are more disciplined and are polite to their teachers. It is only in depressed areas of Europe that the same situation as in Malta prevails. Unfortunately here it is the norm rather than the exception. And the reason is that most parents who have the financial means to send their children to private schools lack basic education and have appalling manners which is obviously reflected in their children's behaviour at school.
Mr Joe Borg
May 31st 2011, 14:18
Naqbel mieghhekk perfettament.
Illum il-mentalita hi li t-teacher trid tkun il-habib/a ta tfal. Pero dan nehha l-awtorita kollha li kella teacher fuq it.tfal. Illum it-tfal spiccalhom ir-rispett lejn it-teacher, u saru jirrispondu b'arroganza u qzis li qabel ma konniex naraw bhalhom. Teacher illum anqas id-dritt li tati punishment ma fadlila, u dan jafuh it-tfal. Meta teacher tejd student student li ma tistax tohrog fil-break jew taghmel kraft jew tilghab bil-kompjter l-istudent jikserr lit-teacher quddiem il-klassi kolla u jejdila, dak dritt tieghi u ma tistax iccahhadni minnu, u it-teacher ikkollha tobdi. Sirna socjeta kollha drittijiet u xejn dmirijiet.
Minalijna li it-tfal kollha angli.
Gordon Mifsud
May 31st 2011, 12:11
I am not surprised by the findings. I have been commenting on this negative situation for many years. Our children have to cope with school, heavy homework, private lessons and duttrina lessons. We are solely focused on academics. Where is the time for relaxation, playing, creative activities, sports and, yes, fun.
My sister’s children in Sweden were brought up with minimal homework, no private lessons and lots of sports and other activities. They are successful. It is to be noted that the Scandinavian countries are consistently tops in all EU tables relating to Maths results for ‘all’ students. The focus is not on the top tier students. This may explain the success of a very small country like Sweden (population of 7million) which has produced some of the most successful and creative multinational groups like SAAB, Volvo, IKEA, Ericsson, H&M.
We need a drastic change in our education approach since we need to create holistic thinking persons who live not just to be a cog in a work society. We need to break the mould.
I trust that the new curriculum will focus on this aspect.
Mr J. Borg
May 31st 2011, 12:02
How funny. Can't we understand that the removal of the Junior Lyceum Exam is a joke. Instead of saying that instead of havin 5 exams there will only be 3, with the removal of religion and social studies. We said that these exams will be eliminated.
Now we find that will be having a benchmark test (exam) for Maths, English and Maltese. Instead of callingit Junior Lyceum exam we will be calling it Benchmark test. Also, children will be streamed in Form 1 according to the results obtained.
So, YES parents are feeling that they have to send their children to private lessons so that they will obtain a high mark and so want end up with children who are behind in education.
V Vella
May 31st 2011, 11:57
Ms. D Galea,
perhaps you know that Northern European students have shorter summer holidays because they have longer mid-term and Easter holidays??
Perhaps you should give teaching in August in the stifling heat a try. Then perhaps you might realise the reason behind the 'three whole months of fully paid summer holidays'. Are you in any way implying that teachers should not be paid during the holidays? What next, other employees not paid when on leave??
Mr carlos ellul
May 31st 2011, 11:45
My points
a) Working mothers today is not a luxury but a need. Loans and bills must be paid and you're really have to excuse those parents who would rather offer their children a roof on their heads and food on the table then helping them in homework
b) Many parents do not have the education background to actually help their kids. Both my parents where working class level and had to resort to private tuition. This discrimination between parents who have education/money to send their kids to private tuition and those who doesn't have that must stop.
c) Blaming parents will get us nowhere. The country need more taxpayers, the parents need more help and the kids need more education.
I am not against teachers. Its a noble job, which deserve ample rights and a good salary (not the pittance they are being paid at the moment). On the other hand education need to be reformed. No work entitle you for so many holidays and give a half baked product (under the form of homeworks) to your customers. If there's money for the MPs salaries and the Piano's city gate without gate project then there should be money for an education reform which will improve education, help working parents and give more dignity to teachers.
Mr John Borg
May 31st 2011, 11:32
This is where the family and upbringing matters! Many working mothers perfer earning money and then spending it on tutoring their children privately, rather than spend time at home during the early years of childhood which is most important to a child's mental development.
Furthermore, (irrespective of divorce) many teachers are witnessing their students not doing homework becuase "they spent the night at their father's house where they have no books" or at their grandmother's house. Some even turn up to school without proper shoes since these were left at some other house.
The biggest worry is that these are the future workforce of Malta!
Elaine Muscat
May 31st 2011, 12:56
Mr Borg I don't really agree with your former statement. Living in the 21st century requires both parents to feel responsible to tutor their children - regardless if its' the mother or the father!
Mr John Borg
May 31st 2011, 14:06
Apologies, statement was made on the basis that the tendency (and I am generalising here) is for the male to be the bread-winner coupled with the natural fact that the female tends to have motherly instincts that males simply do not have.
Why do we even have to question nature now too? We are always seeking equality, when it is diversity that makes life interesting!
Elaine Muscat
May 31st 2011, 22:07
Well, even upon the issue of 'tendency' one could argue if its' a matter of nature or nurture - as culture could also play a significant role perhaps?
I do agree with your concerns on diversity though. However, if we were to seek true equality, well we would allow those mothers who feel comfortable staying home tutoring their children (which I do not find a problem with) but not oblige others or blame them if they do not so..
Mr Christopher Sant
May 31st 2011, 11:23
This is a confirmation of how unsuccessful is our education system which does give importance to students acquiring a balanced lifestyle and a broader education. The most successful people in life are not the ones with the highest number of certificates but those who have acquired the necessary social skills to tackle the problems which are many times unrelated to one's academic knowledge. However it is absolutely necessary that students have very good mathematical and language skills and it is shameful if the time at school is not sufficient to learn these skills.
Karl Micallef
May 31st 2011, 11:19
Education aside, what about the fact that the vast majority of these private lessons are done "behind the scenes"...without any declaration of the income and thus more tax avasion?
Ms Maria Mizzi
May 31st 2011, 11:15
"students from the northern countries of europe rarely attend extra tutoring..". Does the fact that they have longer school hours help? I don't know, just asking.
Mr elton grech
May 31st 2011, 12:19
great question!
Alana Attard
May 31st 2011, 11:13
This shows clearly that something is not fuctioning as should be. Back in my days I have never got any private lessons neither had any home help, and passed 7 O levels.
For sure this is another reason for stressful and financial burdens on the Maltese families.
John Scerri
May 31st 2011, 10:54
How many parents spend quality time sitting beside their young children helping them with their studies and homeworks?
Is sending children to private lessons an easy way out of passing the buck ?
The great majority of honest teachers spend long hours after school preparing lessons, schemes of work, lesson plans, excel sheets, performance data bases . It is the teacher who sometimes has to stay up doing corrections and sorting out between special need students and others who make use of LSA and so on . Unfortunately this work is taken for granted by many parents and administrative bodies.
Teachers are also expected to do extracurricular activities .
All this for a miserable pay packet.
Ms D Galea
May 31st 2011, 11:03
Teachers in the rest of the EU do not get three whole months of fully paid summer holidays.
Students in the rest of the EU do not get no-strings-attached stipends either.
How about getting in line with the rest of the EU about this , AS WELL?
Alana Attard
May 31st 2011, 11:06
You cannot refer to older students but. How can a parent help her 15 year old with Physics for example if she nerver studied this stuff?
Mr David Buttigieg
May 31st 2011, 11:09
"How many parents spend quality time sitting beside their young children helping them with their studies and homeworks? "
When young yes, and a very important duty it is too, but some of what teenagers learn today in school is beyond Greek to me :)
C. Vella
May 31st 2011, 11:23
Mrs Galea. When you give statements such as "Teachers in the rest of the EU do not get three whole months of fully paid summer holidays" please do quote a source. It is true that in some EU countries teachers have less Summer holidays but this is compensated by giving them longer Christmas holidays to compensate for the cold Winters.
Additionally Summer holidays are typically 9 weeks here in Malta and not 12+ weeks as your comment seems to imply. Just because students are on holidays doesn't mean that teachers are on holiday too.
Roberta Rizzo
May 31st 2011, 10:29
What a Monopoly! If the syllabus is too full to teach in a scholastic year, then shorten the syllabus. and by the way, Holistic education anyone??!
Rosalie Sptieri
May 31st 2011, 12:43
"the syllabus is too full to teach in a scholastic year, then shorten the syllabus"...teacher have been fighting for that for years!!! So it's much easier said then done!!!
Mr M Cachia
May 31st 2011, 16:05
If the syllabus is too much then how is it that my teachers managed to finish the syllabus in the required time (actually earlier in some cases) with good enough teaching skills for me to get straight 1's and A's in my O and A-levels? An this is only 9 and 7 years ago! I personally would consider the quality of training new teachers are getting as it seems the situation is worsening with the passing of the old guard
R Borg
May 31st 2011, 09:47
I have been in UK for 10yrs and I am really glad for my son because at least he wasn't stressed out by the time he finished secondary school. I don't know why education has to be such a burden on Maltese young people.
Marvic Attard
May 31st 2011, 09:47
My daughter is in form 3. We were told in a school meeting that she won't be able to follow the full syllabus in Maths next year if she doesn't have high marks in her annual exam. The syllabus offered will not lead her to Matsec. So the result is that I have to send her or private lessons, even though I am against them and some of us don't afford the high prices we are made to pay for such lessons.
Mrs stefania soler
May 31st 2011, 09:18
Perhaps if there were less days off during the scholastic year the teachers may be able to finish off the curriculum calmly while giving the students the attention they might require.
Ms S Micallef
May 31st 2011, 09:54
no stefania sorry we can't have more days of school because teachers are already stressed out enough as is!!! pffffff
teachers are claiming that they are stressed, yet it seems they're not doing their work properly if students still have to turn to private tuition. Or do some teachers give basic lessons at school to lure students to private lessons to make more money?
Danika Vella
May 31st 2011, 10:19
Well, they were complaining about the salary too... so...
Emma Cassar
May 31st 2011, 11:04
they complain about the salary... and stressed out to finish the whole syllabus ... an equation comes to mind ... provide private tuition to 1) finish the whole syllabus and 2) get paid more .. possibly without a receipt aswell ...
Rosalie Sptieri
May 31st 2011, 12:49
Have you lot ever been inside a classroom???? Imagine entering a room where you have 25 students with one sole aim in mind: NOT TO HAVE A LESSON! so what you plan to finish in 45 mins, thanks to your kind and cooperative students, you finish in a week!!! Plus, which days off are you talking about? If students are not there, you expect us to go teach to empty benches? If students have holidays, it's useless going to school no? Try telling YOUR kids to have less holidays....would be interesting to post what they have replied.
Ms S Micallef
May 31st 2011, 14:58
@ Rosalie Spiteri
Since when do we ask children to decide whether they want more school days or longer school hours? How ridiculous!
Plus as seen in the past, even if teachers were paid for the extra hours, they refuse to work because of the stress. Don't you remember some time ago when it was suggested that school hours be increased and all the teachers were kicking up a fuss.
Bottom line is teachers choose their job, no one forces them into it. You don't get nurses complaining about seeing blood on a daily basis because it comes with the job and they choe to do that job. So if some persons are finding it so stressful to work as teachers they are in the wrong job and should seek another occupation.
Mrs stefania soler
May 31st 2011, 17:03
i totally agree with Ms S Micalef. For example parents' day.....can it take place in the late afternoon? why does it require a day off? the professional development day for teachers...there is one per term and each one is a day off for the students....can it take place after school hours? and so on and so forth.
Mr John Borg
May 31st 2011, 08:58
And now with the removal of streaming it will soar much more! We can already see the effect on our child and in the near future the standard of education will become lower and lower. I am against sending my child to private lessons but when your child is placed in a classroom where the teacher used to teach to students in E grade when your child should be in an A grade, well you can imagine the repercussions. The teacher who has been teaching at a slow pace because her students unfortunately cannot manage more, will and is continuing at that pace and in the meanwhile good students will finish up requiring private lessons to keep a standard that should have been supplied by the school teacher herself, only if the education department stops doing experiments with our children!!
Marco Vella
May 31st 2011, 09:37
Not a truer word spoken. I never got why the removal of streaming was deemed essential for the Maltese education system. Are the feelings of the E class now more important than the education of the others ? Yes, it seems.
Rosalie Sptieri
May 31st 2011, 12:50
it was change for the sake of change :/ u lilna u lit-tfal irrangawna ghal-frisk