Postponing the government’s electoral promise of giving tablet computers to all Year 4 students until September 2016 is a reasonable decision as it ensures the project is rolled out properly, according to the teachers’ union.
MUT president Kevin Bonello told Times of Malta the union often criticised the government as pilot projects were rushed and initiatives were launched in a slipshod manner.
“A case in point was the eLearning platform, where teachers would have an online system that would comprise their pupils’ information, such as attendance and results.
“The government signed an agreement with us last November for the initiative to be rolled out in secondary schools but nothing has happened so far. How could it when some schools have faulty internet connections? This problem is now gradually being tackled,” Mr Bonello said.
In the first phase of the tablet pilot project, which began in March, 44 teachers were each given a tablet to familiarise themselves with it and to provide feedback on how it could be used for education.
This week, 350 pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 received the devices as the project moved into its second phase, which will be rounded up by an evaluation report. An Education Ministry spokesman confirmed that the plan to provide tablets in 2016 only applied to Year 4 students. However, in September 2017, former Year 4 students would take their tablets with them into Year 5 and new Year 4 students would be supplied with the device.
Mr Bonello said this phase was significant because it would indicate the best models to adopt. Variables that would be evaluated included which software was best and which books could be read on a tablet.
Teachers also needed to be provided with software or applications allowing them to monitor students’ tablet use and ensure they were following the lesson and not playing games or surfing the internet.
“One of our suggestions that seems to have been taken on board was that teachers should be given the option to turn off the class’s Wi-Fi if deemed necessary.”
The union, Mr Bonello continued, was emphasising the need for a legal framework and structures safeguarding both students and teachers.
“What if a child’s tablet gets broken or stolen? Who would be responsible? We also need mechanisms in place to ensure quick replacement.
“Six classes started this scholastic year with damaged interactive whiteboards. While the devices were repaired within a fortnight, a child can’t wait two weeks for his tablet to be repaired or replaced, especially if he has all his books on it.
“These specifications need to be made clear.”