School hours must be extended

For most working parents school hours are a nightmare simply because these do not match working hours. As things stand parents have to leave work by stealth, rush to pick their children and either send them to a child care centre or to grandparents (if they have any) and return back to work...

Extending school hours would be the greatest encouragement for women to continue working without worrying what happens to their children after school finishes. Malta has the lowest female participation in Europe. This means less income for families. Working class families relying on one breadwinner have less disposable income than those families were both parents work. The entry of women in the labour market could be the best antidote to deteriorating living standards without even increasing costs for employers. Increased economic independence for women also results in greater cultural emancipation and a broadening of horizons. And the extra income would also result in more quality family time. Let's not forget that NSO statistics show that 65% of the Maltese do not even afford a 5-day holiday.

As regards the children themselves they can benefit from a slower pace during the day, longer breaks, more time for extra curricular, sports, music and cultural activities as well as no homework which can be easily replaced by class work. When extending school hours, North Rhine-Westphalia the Green Education Minister, Sylvia Loehrmann, told the state parliament in Duesseldorf that there will be "no more room for homework" after the red-green coalition's plans to lengthen the school day are implemented. These changes will make children less unruly and more willing to consider school as a second home rather than a prison. And extra school hours could do nothing but good for children from problematic neighbourhoods and families. It could even improve nutrition if schools start to organise  healthy breakfasts and lunches.

Obviously this would require a change in the way school time is organised and the government would have to invest more in education. But if the money the government is saving from irrational subsidies on fuel, gas, petrol and planning tariffs is spent on child care it will be well spent. While it is understandable that trade unions defend the working conditions of particular sectors like teachers they should also wake up to 21st century realities and start understanding modern realities.

Obviously teachers who fear an increase in their work load are bound to resist.  Some of the resistance reflects the innate conservatism of the profession. But I will not bash teachers for having long holidays and short working days. Facing a class room everyday can be emotionally and physically draining and requires lots of time of preparation and planning.  

It is also true that teaching is attracting women because ironically it is the only profession which guarantees a healthy work family balance. But that in itself reflects the lack of opportunities for women in other professions due to a lack of child care facilities.

But the fact that the Malta Union of Teachers is insisting that it is not prepared to hold talks on longer school hours, insisting that this issue was settled in the 2010 agreement does not preclude government from employing child carers to run programmes after traditional school hours. In fact this could result in new employment opportunities. And government should start these after school programmes as soon as possible. It does not need anybody's approval for this.

But ideally the whole rhythm of school should change with the academic element being more interspersed throughout the day. This could be the long term goal of a wide ranging reform discussed with all stake holder, parents, teachers and child carers included.