Malta will meet and surpass targets - minister
Education Minister Dolores Cristina expressed confidence this evening that Malta will meet and surpass the EU2020 targets, which a report published by Brussels yesterday was sceptical about.
Addressing a news conference this afternoon the minister said that one of the targets was for there not to be more than 29 per cent of students who were early school leavers. In 2001, 54 per cent of students in Malta were early school leavers, (those aged between 18 and 24 who do not continue studying), the figure in 2010 stood at 36.8 per cent and figures for last year showed it was expected to drop to 34 per cent.
One of the main problems, Mrs Cristina said, was to catch up with the increase in the number of students since this required investment, something the PN government was committed to continue doing.
She said that one of the EU requirements was to increase the participation of students at tertiary level.
The government was currently working on crucial reforms to meet this target. These reforms ranged from providing individual assistance to young children with learning difficulties, introducing vocational training and facilitating the transition from primary to secondary education. The reform, Mrs Cristina said, was a gradual one and results would be seen in a few years.
She noted that this year the government would invest more than €3 million in scholarships.
On the gender gap, the minister said the government was addressing this and the first schools that were built were for boys in localities that needed support.
A mixed gender school was not on the cards at the moment. The closest thing to it was that because of the fact that the boys and girls secondary schools of Sta Clara College had dropping populations and the boys' schools did not have good sports facilities, it had been considered to build the boys' school next to the Pembroke girls' one so that the two schools would be able to share facilities.
As for the sizes of schools, Mrs Cristina said that although it was ideal to have small schools, the number of students in Maltese classes were lower than agreed upon with the Malta Union of Teachers.
Moreover, the government counteracted for large number of students in a college by increasing the number of assistant heads.
The minister also expressed disappointment that Labour would be voting against the upcoming Education Bill, even though they agreed with its objectives.
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Peter Murray
Feb 10th, 09:25
Come the election Malta will meet its targets(with this one in its cross hairs) which include getting rid of dead wood and useless Ministers and that will give Madame Dolores really something to cry about.Further comment is suprerfluous
Lyn Avonwood
Feb 9th, 21:05
Its interesting that in an election year coming up, politicians will promise anything.
Will she even be around for the 2020 targets to ensure they are delivered?
Easy to make promises we will not be responsible for delivering.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Feb 9th, 20:27
If Dolores said it, it will surely not happen. You have been a failure for our country and especially your party..
Joe Grech
Feb 9th, 20:21
Some days ago on government controlled TVM Christine much propaganda was made out of the fact that a library has NOW been put up to help children with Dyslexia problems.
My question to Minister Dolores Cristina: WHY on earth has this library been put up NOW. Why not decades ago? I hope she will be good enough to respond. Surely Christine Firman Dyslexia specialist at the Education Department must have insisted long ago on the need to set up this library....
A Sultana
Feb 9th, 19:34
2001 = 54 per cent
2010 stood at 36.8 per cent
2011 = 34 per cent.
Well Done and thankyou!
william cauchi
Feb 9th, 19:21
Facts are facts Minister Christina. A lot of well meaning words, but despite your best efforts, nobody can negate the fact that in the tertiary level, everybody has moved forward and passed us. Even the so called poor east European countries.
So by 2020 from the last in class, we will become first in class......dreaming can always help
.
Mr leo attard
Feb 9th, 19:21
students need a aguarantee that at the end of tertiary education they are going to get employment
M. Degiorgio
Feb 9th, 22:21
And where on earth is that posible, which country?
Peter Murray
Feb 10th, 09:28
That's simple to provide such a guarantee .Just ask Gonzi to supply such as with the Air Malta employees which not only gives you a job but ensures it!
Victor Buhagiar
Feb 9th, 19:03
Her Onor Dr Christina is living in planet Kastilja or on one of its moons, because with ALL the investment hype the real tangible education our children is rubbish. The curriculum and the syllabi are only creating hatred towards school (which reflects in education standards) amongst our children. No wander the drop out.
Shall we make it to the 2020Euro target my foot at least not with the present crappy policies. The investment being undertaken is in lavish schools (money to contractors) and have baked teachers.
David Farrugia
Feb 9th, 18:38
Of course, it will be possible, but only once she's out of office and the able Evarist Bartolo is in her place!
Paul Caruana
Feb 9th, 17:59
In 2020, Minister Christina will be long gone....so basically she can claim whatever she wants!
Philip Grima
Feb 9th, 19:09
Don't be too sure. Evarist Bartolo is still alive and kicking.