Over 400 students came together yesterday morning to discuss what and howthey would like to learn, as part ofMalta’s national curriculum framework consultation process.
“Students are the new curriculum’s main stakeholders, so it is essential that their views are taken into account during this consultation stage,” education director general Micheline Sciberras said.
Two student representatives from every state, Church and independent school in Malta and Gozo made the trip to Siggiewi primary school to take part in yesterday morning’s seminar.
Following a series of musical performances, the students were divided into workshop groups and guided by personal and social development teachers into giving feedback on what they value in their education.
“Art makes me happy,” one student remarked, “because there’s no right or wrong, it’s just you”.
In another workshop, students discussed what made their favourite subjects special. “My English teacher is great because she gives me time to think before I speak,” a teenage girl said.
The new curriculum framework marks a significant change in Maltese education policy, for the first time outlining how, rather than simply what, children are to learn throughout their school years.
It envisages mixed-ability classrooms, with students given greater flexibility in their choice of subjects and schools adapted to educate not only children but also the wider community.
According to the draft framework, students will be given a more hands-on approach to their own education, with greater emphasis on how students learn rather than on how much they know. Instead of disparate subject areas, subjects have been grouped into eight “learning areas” to better link topics to one another.
Students’ feedback will be gathered and become part of the broader consultation document making recommendations on how to refine the curriculum framework.
The consultation process began last May and comes to a close at the end of this year. Teachers, parents, principals and up to 60 external entities have been consulted over the past six months. Once completed, the final consultation document will be published online. Yesterday’s forum was not the only contact students have had with the new curriculum framework, Directorate for Quality and Standards in education director General Grace Grima explained.
“Students across the country have been shown a series of Youtube videos about the curriculum framework during their PSD classes. The original idea was for students to take part in the final consultation meeting, but we didn’t want them to simply have a token presence, so we decided to organise this conference,” Prof. Grima said.
Education Minister Dolores Cristina encouraged the students to speak their mind and contribute wholeheartedly. “Today, nobody is going to tell you to keep quiet. We want you to speak up and tell us what you want to learn,” the minister told students.