Homeschooling could lead to extremism, teachers’ union warns

The Malta Teachers’ Union has doubled down on its opposition to the proposed introduction of homeschooling, warning that it could lead to extremism and fanaticism “as has been the case in countries like the UK".

In its official reaction to the government’s proposed amendments to the Education Act, the MUT argued that schools are not only centres for formal learning but places that “expose children to vast amounts of informal education that are essential for their development”.

 “Moreover, there is a danger for homeschooled children to be isolated from the rest of the community with little or no protection from the possibility of abuse or neglect,” the MUT said. “Schools are able to identify children who are suffering abuse at home and take action accordingly. If these children are put in a situation where they may be prevented from even reaching the school, they are potentially doomed to suffer abuse for their whole childhood life.

“On the other hand, we believe that the current setup where children are provided with home education if they cannot attend school due to serious medical or other reasons should be maintained.”

Education minister Evarist Bartolo has insisted that the introduction of homeschooling would not mean that teachers could teach whatever they wished to their children, and that home-school educators will require a teaching warrant.

In its reaction, the MUT also argued that school curricula for religious education must be drafted by the state, rather than by the Curia.

“The current practice has shown to be a failure on many levels, not least the level of safeguarding children from pedantic and useless information above values and skills,” the MUT said in a statement. “All curricula and syllabi should be the responsibility of the Curriculum Directorate, which may choose to consult with any organisation it deems fit.”

Elsewhere, the union welcomed the proposed changes to the Education Act that would require kindergarten assistants and LSAs to be covered by warrants or licenses, and would give the final decision on warranting issues to the Council for the Teaching Profession, rather than the minister. However, it insisted that the CTP should be given access to the sex offenders’ register.