Teachers are worried that banding will lead to the labelling of students. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Teachers feel that the introduction of banding – a less differentiated form of streaming – is better than the current mixed ability system but they are concerned that students will once again be labelled.

They are worried that dividing children according to their academic performance could lead to students being labelled as forming part of the “brainy” or “stupid” class.

This labelling used to take place under the streaming system that was phased out a few years ago.

“What worries me is not the introduction of banding, as such, but the labelling that can come with it since this can be detrimental to students,” a Year 6 teacher said.

State primary schools recently received a circular informing them that banding can be introduced, in Year 5 and 6, from the next scholastic year. Introducing the system would be up to the discretion of the school.

Teaching a mixed ability class is impossible

Banding will group students in “bands” according to their exam performance in maths, English and Maltese. However, a certain level of mixed ability is retained as students in close-ranking bands can be grouped together.

The University’s Faculty of Education is insisting that banding is a form of streaming – that was phased out of schools through a reform that’s started in 2009 when the mixed ability system started.

But the Education Ministry is insisting it is not streaming and is the only way to address the problems brought about by mixed ability classes, a position backed by the Malta Union of Teachers.

In a statement, the MUT said it had been highlighting the difficulties of mixed-ability grouping since its introduction. The union requested clarifications about the way banding would be implemented and was satisfied with the procedure to be adopted.

“The MUT notes that there are already some schools that are already adopting ability grouping on similar parameters of banding. It is therefore insisting on an ongoing evaluation of the system to ensure that all decisions are backed by evidence provided directly by schools and educators, who are ultimately facing the difficulties of mixed ability and differentiated teaching,” it said.

Times of Malta spoke to teachers, many of whom said they were against the concept of streaming “in an ideal world” but felt that banding could be the solution to the class chaos caused by mixed ability students.

“Teaching a mixed ability class is impossible. You always feel you are letting someone down since you are either giving too much attention to struggling students or putting too much emphasis on high achievers.

“Mixed classes only work if we have smaller classes or have support, such as teachers’ assistants. We have none of these so the best option is something like banding,” a teacher said.

She added that the main concern was the labelling that would come with it.

This position was reflected by Alternattiva Demokratika education spokesman Mario Mallia, who heads a school. He insisted that the introduction of different forms of streaming was “putting the clock back to where we were years ago”.

“Research showed that segregation of children, particularly at a young age, leads to labels for life: children in particular streams remain in the same streams throughout their educational experience.

“This condemns a substantial number of children, especially those from particular socio-economic groups, and substantially limits their life chances,” he said.

A Year 4 teacher explained that she believed labelling was a concern but it was happening in mixed ability classes as well. She agreed that a system such as banding would mean a more manageable class to the benefit of students.

A Year 6 teacher agreed and said that something needed to be done and banding was an option. However, he believed there were other solutions such as having smaller classes and reviewing teaching methods.