Who let the kids out?

It certainly set the cat among the pigeons when the government launched  a White Paper on schools’ role in alleviating traffic congestion, eliciting scathing comments from the Malta Union of Teachers wrapped in sheer disappointment.

The government is consulting the public, unions and other stakeholders on how best to relieve the present traffic congestion (particularly when schools open) by changing schedules for students.

Quoting the union in a press statement it stated: “It likes to point out to the government that most state schools are already receiving students an hour before the official opening time, and in spite of these arrangements the congestion remained unchanged.”

It appealed to the government to conduct a properly comprehensive exercise that can determine more accurately substantial solutions to this perennial problem. Naturally the traffic cannot all be blamed on busy roads in the months of schooling since the union drew attention to a number of issues impacting traffic. It was reported in the media to blame this on the lack of trust in public transport; certain traffic lights and zebra crossings; lack of pedestrian underground/overhead passages; on the hopeless planning of exits on main roads; absence of skilled drivers on the road apart from lack of moratoriums on heavy vehicles, waste collections and road repairs; it wants to remind about accidents due to runaway horses and horse-driven cabs, which slow traffic down considerably.

So to put it simply – according to the union the solution lies elsewhere. It is adamant in its opinion that students should not start school earlier than at present. This controversy tends to repeat itself every three years or so, especially during the summer.

One may ask how do local school hours compare with other countries – the answer is three days of holidays in November, 15 days of holidays over Christmas, two days of holidays in March and eight days of holidays in April, in addition to public holidays. This totals 90 non-school days during the 2010-11 academic year which happens to be 14 days more than the European average. One recalls how three years ago, Malta Chamber president Mrs Helga Ellul had been invited to participate in a panel discussion on a TV show discussing the topic concerning the extension of school hours.

Mrs Ellul stated that extending the time children spent in school did not necessarily require the participation of the school teacher.  Extra-curricular activities such as sport, ballet, music and religious doctrine could be taught in schools rather than in various locations.  This consolidation of resources would provide both parents and children with a calmer day, involve less frantic driving from one location to another and would allow parents peace of mind knowing that their children are in a safe environment and productively occupied.

Naturally this view is anathema to the teachers’ union as they prefer the status quo and disagree that short school hours, undue emphasis on academic knowledge and lack of professional development training for teachers are not shortcomings in the education system. In 2011, it was Roger Murphy, Professor of Education at the University of Nottingham, who suggested to the government to invest more broadly in inculcating expertise and teaching methods.

In his reasoned opinion, when compared with education systems in developed countries, students in Malta are still receiving a very low number of hours of schooling. He also referred to a European Commission study on private tuition in EU countries, which revealed that in 2008 in Malta a record 78 per cent of Maltese fourth and fifth formers attended some kind of private lessons. Undoubtedly, extension of schools hours by three to four hours daily can be beneficial not only to ease traffic but if extra time can include sessions for sport, kids will not only be exercising and getting fit, it will instill them with a desire to remain active as they get older and they can perform better academically.

Some students prefer to start doing their homework so that by the time they reach home they can enjoy quality time with the family, having spent some time learning about team play, healthy competition and personal discipline. Naturally, the teachers union will see red in these schemes blaming everyone and anyone about the need of relaxation for its members after a full day’s work.

This article is not going into the merits as to who will carry the workload towards the extra ¾ hours of fun games, sports, music or guidance on homework preparation. One needs to consult all stakeholders to find an equitable solution so that teachers will be relieved on a roster basis by suitably qualified carers trained to undertaking supervision and guidance skills.

The scheme will need to be evaluated by carrying out a cost benefit analysis by independent and unbiased professionals. It goes without saying that any improvement in adding after school hours will help immensely to solve the plague of low participation of married females in the work force.

At present even after the introduction of free child care the percentage is still 51%, which compares unfavourably with the EU average. It is encouraging to note that PKF has commenced a scientific study on the barriers faced by married women wishing to participate in the work force.

Thus one notes that both the National Council of Women and the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations concur that extended school hours and providing after-school activities would do more than free childcare to boost the numbers of working women.

Mary Gaerty, president of the NCW, argues that there are a number of stumbling blocks currently making it hard for working women. In her opinion, “culture is an important factor, particularly in two ways: one, in Malta we have a culture whereby men, especially in the 45+ age group, expect women to stay at home caring for the family, rather than pursue a career; two, women themselves in general prefer to take care of their families, leaving the role of breadwinner to the male.”

A bold attempt to revise the school hours will benefit the nation now blessed with a low unemployment level . The problem is that new investment will either be staffed by expatriates or more  married females can be mobilised. This can really result in a win-win situation. Not only will parents have more flexibility and have their stressful daily workload reduced in ferrying kids about here and there and racing against time to get home from work, but the kids themselves will get something healthy out of it too.

The schemes do not have to be limited to academic coaching or tutoring but could include organized games – just consider how obesity is rampant as students’ lives are mostly sedentary – both at home and in school. At present, the system is – kids getting to school early and leaving the premises very early – with lessons crammed in at every opportunity due to the tight schedule.

One may ask, where can the extra millions be found to pay the tutors and carers to cover the extra four hours daily since teachers/lecturers are not likely to stretch to work a full eight hour schedule. Readers are to note that the author suggests after school schemes may be introduced across the board to allow women more flexibility at work.

In this way, longer school hours coupled with free childcare centres and tax incentives encourage more women to venture out into the world of better paid employment while still raising a family. There is also a gender pay gap caused by the fact that it is harder for women to improve their job status. For married women it is harder to get a promotion if you work part time or at reduced hours and leaving work for long stretches of time to collect kids – this does not help improve productivity at work. Mr Evarist Bartolo – beware this reform will be as tough and  challenging as the wrath of a scorned woman.