Ministry says co-ed has made students 'happier'

According to study carried out by the ministry of education on the nine colleges in Malta and the one in Gozo, students are more settled in school now with the co-education system than in previous years and are by far happier and more content.

Education minister Evarist Bartolo defended the decision taken back in 2013 to introduce co-education, a system where both students attend classes in mixed gender environments.

The minister was speaking at a press conference following the release of a report by the ministry of education on the reaction to the co-education changeover. The study included over 3,000 students, parents and teachers.

“The decision for co-education is based on a wider environment. Firstly, there was an issue of size which led us to separate colleges into middle schools comprising of form 1 and form 2 students, and from 3 and 4 which are being taught in separate schools.”

83% of Form 1 students, 78% of Form 2 students and 71% of Form 3 and 4 students seem to be ‘more settled’ and ‘more happy and content’ with the situation, according to the report.

Nevertheless, the report revealed that bullying and lack of discipline seemed to be the greatest issues to be faced in the educational infrastructure.

Maria Ciappara, a former college principal and a consultant for the co-education project in the ministry of education, indicated that the study will be the foundation for a plan of action to address the issues of each and every school.

“The parts of the report regarding the schools themselves were sent to the parents in order for them to be aware of the situation. The parts regarding the teachers were kept confidential in order to be discussed on a one-on-one basis with the principals,” Ciappara said.

Bartolo concluded by outlining the cause of behavioural problems and the solution the ministry of education plans to work towards.

“Behaviour is not completely a result of social factors alone. We believe that behavioural problems stem from the educational process being boring and irrelevant to the students. Therefore, we will be working to create and educational programme which is more flexible and make the learning experience more relevant to students.”

“We want schools to be organised in a democratic way based on equality and respect,” Bartolo added.