Schoolchildren starting secondary education with serious reading and writing difficulties are being given additional lessons tailored to their needs in Maltese, English and/or Mathematics.

Answering a parliamentary question by Anthony Agius Decelis (PL), Education Minister Dolores Cristina said the Educational Quality and Standards Directorate is training the teachers responsible for helping such schoolchildren to develop their basic skills.

This year the directorate has also developed a National Policy and Strategy for the Attainment of Core Competences in Primary Education to help teachers spot the difficulties faced by certain students in reading and writing, thus giving them timely help.

The directorate has invited teachers to attend after-hours training in order to be better equipped to help students who are falling back. The ultimate aim is to nip the problem in the bud before a student actually gets to secondary school.

As from next September, each school will be expected to focus more explicitly on the development of reading and writing skills in all schoolchildren.