A new language question?

"I have no interest in engaging in a debate which takes us back 80 years."

This was Evarist Bartolo's  - Labour's education spokesperson - reaction to the setting of a Facebook group which specifically objects to a proposal he made in October, which proposes that English should be made the language of instruction in schools.

In its mission statement, the 699-member strong group makes reference to Bartolo's proposal that teaching in schools should be in English.

"This proposal has shocked those who treasure the Maltese language as they realised that if enacted, the Maltese language will sink in its prestige and national conscience."

But while refusing to engage in what he sees as an attempt to re-exhume the language question, Bartolo intends to fully participate and give his full contribution in the national conference on the choice of the language of teaching in schools.

"What is important is that we find ways of strengthening both Maltese and English," Bartolo told MaltaToday when contacted.

Bartolo referred to the feedback he regularly received from teachers, which suggested that the importance of English in schools is increasing due to the use of interactive whiteboards in classes.

Malta is also bound to implement the proposals of the EU Commission for Language Learning at pre-primary school level, which recommends that we expose children to three languages at kindergarten level.

Endangered language?

The new Facebook group warns that if teaching in schools is conducted primarily in English, the existence of Maltese "as a living language will be endangered, as it will lose its usefulness in a sector of fundamental importance".

The group steers away from pitting the two official languages against each other.

"Those who love Maltese have nothing against English, and we cannot imagine Maltese life without it. But this should never come at the cost of the Maltese language. If a decision is taken which will make English the language of teaching in schools at all levels or in a substantial part of the curriculum, the Maltese language will suffer irremediable harm."

Referring to the announcement by Education Minister Dolores Cristina - that she will seek the advice of linguists and educators to determine the language of instruction in schools - the Facebook group augurs that "the linguists and educators consulted by the Minister will defend the Maltese language".

National Council for the Maltese language President Manwel Mifsud has already expressed his disagreement with Bartolo's proposal, insisting that this goes against the advice of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The  first principle of the UNESCO Guidelines on Language and Education which state that: "UNESCO supports mother tongue instruction as a means of improving educational quality by building upon the knowledge and experience of the learners and teachers."

Stoking the language fires?

It was Bartolo who raised this issue in a parliamentary question in October in which he asked Education Minister Dolores Cristina whether she thinks that in a globalised world it makes more sense to emulate Hong Kong and Singapore, who increased opportunities for their children and created a world class workforce by making English the language of instruction in school.

In her reply, Cristina was non-committal, insisting that any decision on whether English should be the language of instruction in schools has to be analysed by those drafting the national language policy in the new curriculum.

Subsequently, Bartolo told MaltaToday that although he was aware his proposal was bound to be controversial and that "some linguistic Talibans were shocked" he will stick to the proposal.

"Other countries like Singapore have taken that decision and it has helped them enormously with moving ahead in terms of economic development without destroying their cultural identity and different endogenous languages on the island."

In a another article, Bartolo criticised the fact that Maltese and English are taught in our schools as if these are two native languages that our children acquire automatically through schooling and socialisation.

"But thousands of Maltese children are being brought up in families and educated in schools where English is not used regularly. We have also thousands of children living on these islands whose first language in the family, in the school and in their community, is not Maltese."

New language question on Facebook?

The Facebook already numbers 699 members, although it also includes a large number of people, including politicians and journalists, who were added to the group by others - something which happens in other groups of this sort.

The comments on the Wall group were mostly averse to making English the language of instruction in schools.

Mario Vella - vocalist of the rebel folk pop band Brikkuni whose songs are in Maltese lashed at those who want to "relegate the Maltese language" to make Malta "more attractive for markets".

Senior lecturer in Maltese Adrian Grima posted that the quality of the English language will not benefit if Maltese if no longer the language of instruction in schools.

"The problem is not related to the quantity of the English used but to the quality. In the case of Maltese the continuous and creative use of Maltese in the various sectors is crucial."

Grima also warned that there is a danger that many students could be penalised not because they do not know the subjects thought but because they are not sufficiently confident in expressing themselves in English. While recognising the need to improve standards in Maltese and English Grime wrote that "we should not use other subjects to improve the level of English at school".

Grima also referred to the fact that although Malta like many countries has two official languages it only has one national language.

"This state of fact is enshrined in our constitution and I fully agree with this."