Children should not be used as “guinea pigs” for major education system changes, according to the newly formed Maltese Association of Parents of State School Students.
The association’s president, Simon Scicluna, told Times of Malta that the parents of children attending government schools want to be informed and consulted before any changes affecting the education.
“We do not want our children to be guinea pigs. A case in point is how we went from streaming to mixed ability classes. The changes were too rapid.
“After three years, we realised it wasn’t quite working out so now we’ve changed the system to banding.
“I feel sorry for those children who spent three years under a drastically different system, only for it to then go through another upheaval.”
Mr Scicluna stressed that the association was not against reforms as change was an essential component of reaching objectives, but it wants more involvement during decision-making.
The Education Department often sought feedback from the teachers’ union but there was no corresponding parents’ association.
“Church and private schools have their own parents’ associations,” Mr Scicluna said.
“We felt that there needed to be one for government schools as well.”
The association was hoping for a national consensus for education, he added.
“We have that for the economy sector – deficit and debt levels are controlled.
“Governments can’t just decide to rapidly change things. The same should apply to the education sector.”
Association secretary Glorianne Borg Axisa pointed out that parental involvement was often linked to fundraising.
I feel sorry for those children who spent three years under a drastically different system, only for it to go through another upheaval
“There’s nothing wrong with that but it would be a pity if parental involvement is only constrained to deciding what colour the curtains should be,” she said.
“Parents can also be involved in policy making and school management.
“Unless effective communication channels between the schools’ senior management teams, the teachers themselves and the parents are created, we would not be able to contribute to the learning process of our children and reinforce what is happening in class.
“Remember that it is estimated that 70 per cent of children’s education takes place outside the school.”
The association is also proposing having smaller groups of children in class, as it believes this would enhance a positive school experience among the pupils and help improve the relationship between children and their teachers.
For further information about the association, visit www.mapsss.org or e-mail info@mapsss.org.