Nationalist government ‘never meddled with education’ - PM

Victor Vella

Sep 17th 2012, 14:07

GonziPN has the sealed certificate that under his regime education was brought to the level of a fracas where 35% of secondary students do not hold any certificates and according to the latest EU figures Malta has the largest population of students that do not know how to read and write. This is the record number of students that Gonzi Partit Ngann is talking about.

Mario Scicluna

Sep 17th 2012, 09:30

And how will you answer to the 'frejjeg' of the suspension of EU funds that you as PM responsable and Onor. Minister Cristina as Education Minister have combined as explained below? And how do you reply to the chaos and babilonja that exixts in the Education sector, confirmed by MUT, teachers and those involved in the sector?

Nationalist government ‘never meddled with education’ - PM. Totally unbelievable statements from the worst PM that Malta has ever seen, unfortunately! The 'Partit Nazzjonalista' through 25 years of neglect and mismanagement has brought shambles and total disasters and utter disorganisation in such a vital sector, ending with the illiteracy putting us the last in all EU countries with such dismal record. Now that is a certificate that we can be proud of dear Nationalist PM Gonzi.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100527/local/education-minister-apologises-for-students-funds-suspension.309151

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100603/local/officials-blamed-for-suspension-of-eu-funds-resign.310404

Anthony Paris

Sep 17th 2012, 09:09

The fact of the matter is that we are still at the bottom of the EU education list. Another example of how the government boasts about spening taxpayer money, but with nothing to show for it.

Lawrence Fenech

Sep 17th 2012, 08:51

X'naghmlu nidhqu, ghax ma s-saqsix lil-Cristina ta' l'edukazzjoni u ic-cucati li ghamlet mhux politica din? Hallina Gonz lil-min qed tipprova tikkonvinci, aktar ma jghaddi zmien aktar qed johrog ingann.

Paul Bajada

Sep 17th 2012, 08:47

Gonzi, say it to those students who missed the boat after the EU stopped the funds due to the incompetence at the Ministry of Education! What a cheek!

victor caruana

Sep 17th 2012, 08:30

No wonder we are at the bottom of the league of EU countries where educafion results are concerned.

francis Buhagiar

Sep 17th 2012, 08:28

If Malta is measured by thre size of your ideas Dr. Gonzi one needs a microscope to see it.

j brincat

Sep 17th 2012, 08:26

Just ask the parents who pray and make vows that their children are lucky enough to be among those selected when lots are drawn. Others can afford to take them to private schools (even though in some cases sacrifices have to be made).

Besides, teachers and their union have complained that there was not much consultation as regards the new entrance system into state secondary schools.

And there GonziPN gets his answer!



(jb)

Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO

Sep 17th 2012, 08:25

Let us take politics out of the education arena and really analyse what we need to do to get our education system up to scratch in terms of the world or at least the best of European standards. Yes we spend as much on education per student if not more than other countries but the money spent is often being misallocated and mismanaged and as a nation we certainly are not getting value for money. We have an unnecessary and unfair three tier system of schools where millions are being wasted on duplication in buildings and teachers. We have the highest functional illiteracy rate of school leavers in Europe. We have no single tertiary education institute ranked by any ranking organisation in the top 1000 universities of the world, yet we give some of the most generous education packages to students. The truth is our university is ranked 1300 , MCAST is ranked 5000 and ITS 12000 in the world. Forgetting Singapore even Cyprus has its tertiary institutions in the top 500. Our spending on research and development is the worst in Europe as is our percentage of of students reading for scientific degrees. We messed up the Erasmus programme for two years. If this is greatness in our educational system I question what is failure. I would say the lack of success of the worst of the Mintoffian years is still with us twenty five years after those unfortunate educational times.

francis Buhagiar

Sep 17th 2012, 08:23

It had never closed a school you said. Are you serious Dr.Gonzi? what about trade schools. I can assur you that those parents who thanks to you, their children left school completely illiterate and not even learn a trade will never forget what you have done to them.

Jurgen Farrugia

Sep 17th 2012, 08:14

A Pn Government always had success in education. I am a student at MCAST. Until 2010 I was working in the construction because I didn't want to have anything to do with school. I have to say I was fed up, 18 years old and already having back problems for 170 euros a week. I was given the opportunity to start meeting with a social worker, the Government offers this service for free. They showed me tons of ways how I could go back to school. I chose to start attending evening classes offered y the EU and the Government, they are quite cheap, just 35 euros for a year. I sat fore the O' levels and passed, while still holding my full time job. Now I quit my full time job, found a part time and I am going to MCAST next month studying software development. All I can say is that the education system in Malta gave me another chance and I am very grateful for this. Well done to the minister, Government, EU and all teachers and policy makers in Malta

J. Debono

Sep 17th 2012, 08:14

@ Eddy Privitera

you know - education is mandatory till 16 years of age - and Sixth Form, MCAST, University are free, not only - students are paid to study - those who leave do so out of their own free will - you can take a horse to the water but you cannot make it drink.

@ A. Tonna

Are you forgetting that on 1997 - the MLP at the time was going to remove stipends and replace them with a loan? I was a student at the time - I do not forget - starting life at the age of 24 with a University loan, and a house loan.

Also under the MLP - do you remember the numerus clausus? Yes it was free - for the elite few.

Do you remember - skola tas-snajja? Leaving people ignorant with just one basic skill - if any. At least to enter MCAST one must know how to read and write and basic mathematics.

And of you are over 25 - go to MCAST and see the amount of courses one can do - incredible - where they present under the MLP - of course not.

The education system has improved a lot - one cannot negate this, it is free of charge (except MCAST courses), and students get paid for studying. Anybody mention another country with the same possibilities?

Peter Simpson

Sep 17th 2012, 07:58

PN voted against compulsory primary education in Parliament, voted against Maltese becoming the official language of Malta-considering it - not more than a' djalett tal-kcina'-and voted in the early 70s, against free university education ! That's a disgraceful blemish that can never be washed away!

Anthony A. Mifsud

Sep 17th 2012, 07:54

On the 21st Sept do us a favor and call what you it's best for our nation
Every body is pulling one rope now, so you have failed in this sector too.
Ninu

John L Galea

Sep 17th 2012, 07:49

Any new ideas GOnzi? nooo. Everything's perfect under GOnziPN...lol

George Camilleri

Sep 17th 2012, 07:48

Fair enough. However...

What about the army of unemployed graduates? (or graduates working in jobs they're over-qualified and under-payed in?)

What about the school dropouts?

What about the existence of uneducated, some even illitirate, adoloscents in Maltese society?

Why are we mentioning events and mistakes which some of them happened over 20 years ago whilst we have equally grevious situations up to this present day?

What good does a rigid and challenging educational system hold if the succesful graduate has no guarantee of finding suitable employment as per his/her hard earned qualifications?

Drop the past and act in the present!

Mr M Spiteri

Sep 17th 2012, 06:56

it is not how much you spoend but the result that counts. The state educational system is a failure particularly in the secondary school and thus there is a frenzy for church schools.

Ramon Casha

Sep 17th 2012, 05:21

Is that why Malta was kicked out of the EU's education programs, costing hundreds of students opportunities that can never be replaced?

Mr Emanuel Farrugia

Sep 17th 2012, 02:08

Tajjeb li wiehed jinnota, illi dan 'l pajjiz bhal issa qieghed jiftahar hafna bl-edukazzjoni, kemm ta' kull sena qeghdin jidhlu studenti l-Universita u issa ghandna l-MCAST u wara? L-impjiegi qeghdin jinghataw lil dawk tal-hbieb tal-hbieb. Kull minn ghandu halqu, kulhadd jghid li jrid u li jaqbel lilu. Jien wiehed mix-xjuh f'dawn l-affarijiet u naf sew x'qieghed nghid. Tippruvawx tkomplu tghaddu z-zmien bis-socjeta.

Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council

Frans Aguis

Sep 17th 2012, 01:16

WHat a huge lie!Every teacher I know complains about how the reform in education and introduction of the college system has only added beurocracy and sent public schools backwards!Apart from the fact that many people are opting for pvt schools because public schools are no longer streamed!

Anthony Micallef

Sep 17th 2012, 00:17

Dr Gonzi has a very short convenient memory.Who was Mons.Panzavecchia a minister of education with? This honourable priest used to tell people,Educate your children and they will lose their soul.

What do you expect from this group of well educated ,self serving group?

M. Bezzina

Sep 17th 2012, 00:07

Mhux ahjar naraw iz zewg faccati jew!!Semmi il miri li fallejt fijom u ala!!!

Jay Oatmon

Sep 17th 2012, 00:01

I just don't believe the situation as described by this government, they always say things are fine - just like the Greek government before the meltdown there. The fact is everything needs to be upgraded and revised as time passes, and sitting still basically means falling behind others who do upgrade and revise.

B. Cachia

Sep 16th 2012, 23:46

Yes, it has "meddled" with education, in fact, by introducing in Malta policies that have failed elsewhere, such as the removal of streaming and exams at most levels. This is not only a stupid policy, it's also not one that you'd expect a member of the European People's Party to embrace. For Heaven's sake experiment with anything but not with the future of our children!!

A Tonna

Sep 16th 2012, 23:40

Dr Gonzi should remember that it was PL under Mintoff who started free education for all, and it was PL who gave the opportunity to all to continue their studies. It was PL who created the pupil worker scheme at the sixth form and student worker scheme at the University. I myself benefited from these.

Honestly, who had removed these? PL or PN?

Jamie Cutajar

Sep 16th 2012, 23:38

Malta has one of the highest dropout rates post secondary in Europe. Our national literacy standards are lamentable. Government turned the most qualified educators in the country into sacrificial lambs when Europe withdrew funds due to mismanagement. Will the government or the minister be held to account for these failings?

Joseph Micallef

Sep 16th 2012, 23:28

You never closed a school or institute? Are you being serious Gonzi? My Goodness gracious, this person is so incredible. Where have the trade schools gone???

Lies, lies and more lies!

JOSEPH BORG

Sep 16th 2012, 22:53

Yeah right, you might have not meddled with education - I agree! But you have managed to mess up medical promotions beyond belief.

Eddy Privitera

Sep 16th 2012, 21:46

He talks BIG ! the FACTS ? we still have thousands of children leaving school without knowing how to read or write after 25 years of PN government !

mark borg

Sep 16th 2012, 21:16

mhux ovvja li kull sena jizdied in numru alla hares le fit 2012 ! lilna ghidilna dawn in nies li qed jigradwaw kemm qed jispicaw ..waiters ....salesman/salesgirls etc.etc

N. Agius

Sep 16th 2012, 21:12

Talk to teachers and they will tell you that there were so many changes taking place whether curricular and non-curricular that most of them got lost. The new college system, revision of syllabi, introduction of new subjects, the extensive changes in the NCF, fronter... the list is endless and teachers are simply not coping with all these changes.