Two interesting educational issues are currently making waves in the social media. One wants to stretch schooling beyond its traditional confines; the other wants to replace it. The first is asking whether Islam should be taught in Maltese schools. The second is about the introduction of homeschooling.
Mariam al Batool (Virgin Mary) is a private primary and secondary school that has been serving the Muslim community in Malta for 40 years. But it is now set to close, in spite of financial support by successive Maltese governments, since it is being starved of funding by the current Libyan maelstrom.
Many of the school’s students are Maltese. Their parents are arguing that these students have the same right for a holistic education as their Christian counterparts, and if the latter have the right to a religious education, so should they.
Some commentators have raised the spectre of sharia law being smuggled into Maltese State schools like some kind of religious explosives belt. This is ridiculous. Any school in Malta is required by law to be licensed and is subject to regular inspection. Moreover, the Education Minister has the right “to establish, communicate and require the execution of a National Curriculum Framework of studies subject to the specific religious nature of any school”.
Properly implemented, this framework is absolutely incompatible with the ‘poster boy’ parts of sharia law that are touted with monotonous regularity by the scaremongers among us.
On this issue, Minister Evarist Bartolo and Archbishop Charles Scicluna have hit all the right notes. No wild-eyed mullah is going to be allowed into our schools, just as no born-again Evangelical is going to be allowed to teach pseudo-science. But no students should be summarily excluded by ‘cultural’, logistic or even constitutional pretexts, not even from our Catholic schools.
Also, the astute Archbishop is well aware that the alternative would be a drive towards a completely secular State school system.
Our part of the world is becoming increasingly inscribed by the unholy triangle of Trump, Putin and lordlings of the Near and Middle East, each intent on manipulating Evangelical, Orthodox or Islamic convictions to suit political ends and build walls rather than bridges.
In this toxic environment, a well-thought-out strategy for the educational integration of Muslims in Malta can go a long way to bolster the moderate leadership of the Maltese Muslim community, and to testify to a workable Maltese interculturalism that seeks to exorcise the devils of fundamentalism, nativism and war that howl around us.
Homeschooling is a different matter. The MUT’s blanket Niet is insensitive because some provision will always be needed. But it is worrying that the Maltese homeschooling proponents simply flick away objections that parents may not be sufficiently qualified by saying that the information will be in the books.
No wild-eyed mullah is going to be allowed into our schools, just as no born-again Evangelical is going to be allowed to teach pseudo-science
I can read my car manual, thank you very much. It does not make me a mechanic. And even a mechanic will need specialist support sometimes.
On the other hand, homeschoolers’ claims should make educators pause for thought. If homeschooling is preferable because it leads to less stress, more parental involvement, more flexibility and outdoors learning, better balance between ‘core’ and ‘fun’ activities – what does that say about the experience of schooling in Malta?
Educators may object that homeschooling deprives learners of crucial socialisation. But how do they answer the charge that Maltese schools are still socialising too many into failure?
So is this stretching of our schools in terms of Islam and homeschooling an SOS? Not really. If these new expectations are handled properly, they can inspire the next stage of maturation of our educational system.
To Karen Mercieca’s rescue
From the same police force that last year brought you the Xewkija Tigers’ glorious victory over domestic abuse, comes another inspiring story of the power of friendly connections.
Karen Mercieca was an LSA working at Għajnsielem primary school. One day she noticed that her charge had what looked like a cigarette burn, which she reported as per standard procedure.
But her action risked exposing the student’s family to possible shame, and that would never do. A few days later the student’s family countered by accusing Ms Mercieca of sexually abusing her charge.
What followed were five wasted years of spectacularly – and suspiciously – inept police investigations. The courts finally threw out the case with some pointed remarks on the investigative (non)prowess of the police.
But Ms Mercieca’s anguish did not end there. She had the gumption to file a complaint against the police. But they seem to be trying to bury the whole thing under the carpet. Ms Mercieca has been and is still subject to what has all the markings of abuse of police power.
So, who can beat back these potent forces of cronyism? Who would be able to shine the light of truth on this murky drama? Who could shrivel with his steely stare any attempt at a police cover-up?
Who would be deaf to any whisper of political interference, blind to any blandishments to sway his stern judgement?
Why, our capable Caped Crusader Commissioner Cutajar, that’s who. He will surely come to Ms Mercieca’s rescue. If the government doesn’t mind, of course.