Teachers' union says college teachers not prepared for educational reform

Teachers’ union president John Bencini said the changeover of the state education system to the regional college system is underway with no preparation for the eventual changes.

Bencini said the MUT was in favour of the reform, which does away with the streaming of 11-year-olds in government area secondaries and the more successful Junior Lyceums, and instead channels all students into regional colleges.

“Preparations for the reform started way too late and the education directorate is in a state of panic,” Bencini said. “The piecemeal approach to planning is of concern to teachers.”

Bencini said students who still require basic skills in core subjects English, Maltese and mathematics, having managed to get just 20% of marks in their exams, will not find teachers who are trained to teach them in these basic skills.

“The curriculum is also of major concern, as it needs to incorporate all these students, ranging from those with just basic skills to high-flyers… teachers are unaware of how grouping of these mixed skills will occur in September and they are worried at the wide range of abilities and whether this could lead to misbehaviour in classrooms.”

The MUT recommend broader consultations with stakeholders from the inception phase instead of the implementation of pre-planned policies as the reform will "ultimately take place in the classroom."

They also recommend a revision of class size and teacher-student ratio in secondary schools. "A comprehensive system of education requires greater individual attention to students which is difficult to attain with the present criteria. Mixed ability classes need to be smaller with more support in the classroom."

Bencini added that the lack of teachers will only get worse when the new system is implemented as more teachers are required to handle mixed ability classes. 

Too many initiatives have been taken simultaneously including new syllabi, the introduction of vocational