The Education Minister will not propose making English the main language of instruction in schools, despite championing this policy in opposition.
During a Parliamentary debate on the National Curriculum Framework in October 2011, Evarist Bartolo stoked controversy by asking his predecessor if English should be made the language of instruction in schools.
Mr Bartolo was criticised at the time by the National Council for the Maltese Language but he defended his suggestion in the media and referred to his detractors as “linguistic Talibans”.
“I will stick to that proposal. Other countries like Singapore have taken that decision and it has helped them enormously with moving ahead in terms of economic development without destroying their cultural identity and different endogenous languages on the island,” he was quoted as saying in 2011.
Asked by Times of Malta if he intended to revise the National Curriculum Framework to implement this proposal now he was Education Minister, Mr Bartolo replied that the framework already reflected his view that both Maltese and English were important in education.
“The English language is a vehicle to improve literacy in children, close the digital divide and equip individuals to face a globalised future. These points will be taken into consideration when policy decisions are taken but at this stage, there will be no revision to the national curriculum framework,” Mr Bartolo said.
His spokesman clarified that the use of the phrase “at this stage” did not automatically imply there will be revision at a later date.
The previous government published the long-awaited curriculum framework last February to be implemented in the next scholastic year. It referred to English as “generally... the second language” in which “linguistic fluency and competence is expected”.
Pressed on whether Mr Bartolo had changed his position on the use of English in schools because of pressure from elsewhere in the Labour Party, his spokesman said: “The curriculum framework already stresses the importance of the English language in education and the value of this approach given in the document reflects the minister’s position.”
When it was suggested that the status of English in the curriculum framework was very different to what Mr Bartolo had proposed in October 2011, his spokesman replied he had no further comment to make.
In January 2012, while in opposition, Mr Bartolo vowed a Labour govern-ment would reopen discussions on the curriculum framework in areas where stakeholders had not been properly consulted.
The previous government had told Times of Malta last year that English is generally considered a second language in state schools but teachers adapt according to the needs of their students.
Last May, the Education Ministry unveiled a framework for the National Literacy Strategy For All, with emphasis on ensuring children are bilingual and can shift easily between Maltese and English.