Maltese language teacher Paul Gatt has been awarded a Master of Science degree in educational leadership by the University of Leicester, graduating with Merit.

His dissertation focused on an understanding of how the education reform under way in the local educational system for the past eight years has impacted teachers’ emotions, their self-efficacy and their professional identity.

The research adopted a qualitative research methodology which sought an understanding of the meaning that reforms have for teachers, while also providing insight into the teachers’ personal and professional concerns.

The study highlights the need for policy-makers to listen to teachers and to assess how the changes are affecting them as the implementers of the reform. Thus, if reforms are to be a success while also enhancing teachers’ professional identity, policy-makers need to engage teachers in the process of change which reforms request them to embrace.

Mr Gatt’s studies were funded by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme.