The International Union of Socialist Youth World Festival just held in Malta focused, among other topics, on education. As a member of PES Women and president of Nisa Laburisti I was invited to join a panel of experts in connection with the debate on the education of girls and the relatively recent phenomenon of female graduates.

In my opinion, any such discussion needs to move away from the traditional view of education as being focused on the core academic subjects and embrace a more long-term life skills learning approach in such a way that education is seen as something more than merely a means towards an economic end.

I feel that such a holistic concept of education is more relevant and necessary in the continuously evolving society of the 21st century.

Though it is a statistically confirmed fact that in today’s society more females than males are successfully graduating with a University degree, one needs to move away from mere numerical data to analyse the impact upon society in general that such a relatively modern phenomenon is having and, more importantly, is likely to have on our way of life in the future.

For starters, I believe that an analysis is necessary to determine whether, in fact, this is merely because more girls than boys are being born in any given territory. What possible explanations could be given to any such findings?

One would also need to analyse the trends associated with male and female education and primary, secondary and post-secondary school levels. Are there any indications that, perhaps, boys are falling behind girls in their formal academic education at these levels and if so why? What measures need to be taken to address any such lacuna?

Thirdly, and more importantly perhaps, one would also need to consider the overall impact of this new reality, not just on the job market but also within the wider society in general. What is happening to these female graduates after they successfully complete their university studies? With more female graduates, how is it that most top jobs are still male dominated? Can we expect a radical change in societal leadership to occur within the next decade or two?

In my opinion, in most Western societies, at least, the changes are already significantly being felt. Unlike what was the norm in the pre- and immediate post-WWII years, modern-day young girls, irrespective of whether in possession of a tertiary education or not, are more independent and socially liberated.

To an extent, in fact, our social mores have experienced a radical change over the past 30 or so years, which change is still ongoing and to which our moral and legal codes still require to adjust.

Today’s young females are not as innocent and vulnerable as sometimes certain segments of society make them out to be. That is a fact to which, society, and, especially, those in authority, need to become accustomed to and adjust at the earliest.

There is then the matter of whether girls require to be taught independently of boys. Personally, I do not think so.

Although statistics still show that the majority of domestic violence and sexual harassment and abuse (including work-related discrimination) victims continue to be female, I believe this does notjustify the need of any particular separation between girls and boys in a formal educational context.

It is not only a matter that boys, just like girls, may find themselves victims of any such behaviour but, more importantly, because at the basis of any such tuition there should be understanding of mutual respect.

It is also for this reason that I welcome the move towards more integration in the classroom away from the traditional segregation between the sexes. As experience has shown not just abroad but also locally in the private sector, mixed schools, even at secondary level, are an important tool towards the building of deeper and stronger bonds in society.

I understand that, perhaps, this is not the traditional point of view to be associated with a person occupying such a high role in an organisation representing women. This said, however, from day one, Nisa Laburisti has made it amply clear that it fully believes that the role and interests of women can be better furthered through a more holistic understanding of society, where women and men work together as equal partners rather than some sort of tribal adversaries.

The role andinterests of women can be better furthered througha more holistic understandingof society

In my opinion, the moves towards a more integrated education based on mutual understanding and respect will significantly help so tomorrow’s society can fully embrace the potential of all its components, whether male or female. It is to this goal that we should all be striving in the years to come.

If not for anything else, the 2013 European Parliament casual elections and, again, the European elections this year proved that, even at a political level, Maltese society is changing and is now among the front runners when it comes to female representation with two-thirds of its MEPs being women.

Yet, on a national and local level there is still a lot to be desired. The structures are not always adequate for those willing and able to offer their services in the political arena to find a work-life balance. This applies to men as much as women. Parliamentary or council sittings, for instance, are still usually held late into the night when family obligations matter most.

The recent initiative by the government of quality free childcare is making it more possible for women to remain in the labour market. The initiative is still in its early days and one will have to take stock of the situation in the coming years to see whether the intended objectives were achieved.

I was a latecomer at the university but that did not preclude me from having a professional, political and family life. I would like to see more women attending university even if they did not have the opportunity to do so when young.

In the meantime, I appeal to the authorities to give the opportunity to young people to invest in other forms of education. Sexual education is one sphere that should not continue to be considered a taboo.

Let’s give young people all the necessary tools to move on in life, to climb the ladder, to reach and become leaders in Malta and beyond.

Claudette Abela Baldacchino is president of Nisa Laburisti.