The internet today is found everywhere, at home, at the office, on the mobile and in public spaces. Chatting on social networks, reading news online have become daily occurences. The internet has become an integral part of our daily lifestyle.
A huge investment has been made by the government to provide access to the internet and technology, not least in schools in the firm conviction that our children, from an early age, should be equipped with the key competences needed to meet the challenges of everyday life. This is in line with the SmartLearning strategy that was developed to meet the challenges of a know-ledge economy.
The strategy is based on three pillars: infrastructure, skills and content. The necessary steps have been taken with regard to infrastructure needed in schools, an investment of €20 million.
All state schools are equip-ped with computers at all levels and teachers have a laptop each. There are more than 6,390 computers available for students at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels.
A total of 2,200 classroms in state schools are being equipped with an interactive whiteboard. Over 100 schools, state and non-state, will have access to an e-learning solution. This e-learning platform will widen further the access and use of the internet for students, teachers and parents. What happens in the classroom may also be easily accessed from home. The e-learning platform has over 100 functions that will be implemented gradually to ensure its success.
The government is not only investing in internet access in schools and in the classroom but also in widening this accessibility to ensure that students and teachers may have internet access without any restrictions.
In fact, the government is investing to segregate the network of schools from the public service network. Parents and teachers alike are happy with this initiative because it gives students an open free access to the web, enabling them to research on any subject that is considered in line with their curricula.
This initiative is complemented with different projects, such as BeSmartOnline, to provide information to parents and educators on how to use the internet in a safer way.
The government’s investment in technology also caters for the special needs of children with disability and students with learning difficulties.
Investment in assistive technology is necessary to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to learn and progress in their education. High tech equipment is procured for the ACTU (Access to Communication and Technology Unit) that provides a specialised assessment for persons with special needs in the area of assistive technology and communication to help them solve problems in everyday life, in education and in social situations.
During this legislature, the government continued to purchase hardware and software for students and to equip the resource centres that now have state-of-the-art fully-equipped ICT rooms. Children with intellectual and physical disabilities, multiple and profound disabilities, autism, deaf and blind students as well as those with learning difficulties, including ADHD and dyslexia, make use of this technology and equipment.
The government’s strategy includes investment in education professionals to have the necessary skills to prepare a new generation of students. Over 5,000 teachers in state schools in different teaching grades are being trained in the use of both interactive whiteboards and the e-learning platform to ensure the widest use of the technologies that are being provided.
Ongoing training is also carried out for educators in relation to assistive technology to ensure that students with disability and learning difficulties receive the necessary support in the classroom.
Malta’s SmartLearning strategy is in line with the Digital Agenda for Europe, one of the seven flagship initiatives of Europe 2020. Content, one of the pillars of Malta’s strategy, falls under one of the actions of the Digital Agenda that focuses on ICT and education to enhance digital literacy, skills and inclusion.
Information technology is embedded in the curriculum. Through the investment made by this government, students in kindergarten and primary schools are being exposed to ICT in their education. Since 2004, all secondary students have been following ICT applications leading to the ECDL certification to enable them to become proficient users of ICT.
The proposed national curriculum framework aims to infiltrate further ICT in the curriculum. In fact, e-learning is being proposed as one of the five cross-curricular themes to achieve the aims of education for all students. The inclusion of eLearning in the curriculum enhances the learning and teaching process that takes place in our schools. Children are given new and valuable learning experiences through student-centered learning activities and greater engagement and interaction in the classroom providing more opportunities to foster the development of 21st century skills.
Access to different technologies and the internet is fundamenal in the education of our children. Education ensures that freedom to the internet remains a civil right that can be accessed by all. This has been and will continue to be a priority for this government to enable students to develop their full potential in today’s digital economy.
Minister of Education and Employment.