While Year 6 students have their heads buried in books studying for their Junior Lyceum exam it remains unclear whether they will be tested on five subjects or whether the exam will be held at all.

The Education Ministry confirmed a decision on the issue would be taken "in the coming days".

According to the plan of action published in November, when the ministry announced a reform document for the transition between primary and secondary school, the Junior Lyceum exam for the scholastic year 2008/2009 and the next should remain the same. However, the uncertainty over this year's exam is cause for concern among students and parents because the exam is normally held in May, barely two months away.

The concerns were raised on Sunday during a seminar on education organised by the Labour Party (PL) for students and parents.

Applications for the Junior Lyceum exams are normally issued in November with the exams held in May. No applications were issued last November.

The Junior Lyceum and common entrance exams feature prominently in the government's education reform. The idea is to do away with both and, in the case of the Junior Lyceum exams, replace them with forms of assessment that do not lead to streaming in secondary schools.

The consultation document on the reform was launched in November and the ministry extended the consultation period to February 15. The ministry said a lot of feedback was received and is "currently being evaluated".

"In the coming days the ministry will be in a position to make a final decision on this evaluation and, consequently, also on the Junior Lyceum examination. In the meantime, schools continued to prepare students for this examination as usual. The final decision will be based on the evaluation of all feedback received," a ministry spokesman said.

Asked what subjects would be tested in the forthcoming exams, the ministry did not answer. Students have so far been tested in Maltese, English, maths, religion and social studies.

Normally, students sit for the Junior Lyceum exam to gain entry into the state secondary Junior Lyceum schools. Students who did not make the grade proceeded to the area secondary schools.

The new college system does away with the distinction between Junior Lyceums and area secondary schools, putting into doubt the necessity of the exam.

On the other hand, students who wanted to proceed with their secondary education in Church schools also sit for the common entrance exam.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com