Secondary education overhaul will see 12-year-olds choose new subject mix

Education minister Evarist Bartolo announced this afternoon that, starting in 2019, the government will be implementing a new system for secondary education. 

Under the new system, once students reach Form 2, in addition to their core subjects, they will need to choose additional subjects from three different paths: an academic path, a vocational one or a path based on applied learning. Students will also have the option of mixing subjects from the different paths. 

Frank Fabri, director general at the ministry of education said that the current system works very well for only a percentage of students. He explained that the current system is a one-size-fits-all system and that the training teachers receive is intended for teaching students who are going to follow an academic path. 

"While this path is an important one, and one that needs to be strengthened further, he said that there are a substantial number of students that are not coping with the expected level. The result is that they become disruptive in class and do not enjoy school, in many cases resulting in absenteeism. The new system is intended to allow all students to succeed and will be tailor made for Malta. This is the first time we are going to implement a system that has been designed for Malta and that is not based on the English system," Fabri said.

Under the proposed system, each of the three paths will lead up to and MQF level 3 or O'level standard. Currently, only the academic path leads to this level of certification. In order to be able to teach each of the different paths, teachers will have to be trained accordingly. Fabri said that all paths will require graduate teachers who will be trained over the next three years.

An agreement is in place between MCAST, the Faculty of Education, ITS and the ministry that will see co-ordinated training of teachers take place, said Fabri. Moreover, he said that there are currently talks taking place on a collaboration with one of the main universities in Finland that trains teachers for vocational teaching.

In addition to offering new subjects, the new system will also seek to reform the national career service that will seek to give students in the new system, the best possible information upon which to base their decision.

"We want to avoid scenarios where children make choices because their friends do, or because a teacher leaves a good impression on the student. Parents and students will know exactly what a particular choice means," he said.

When asked by journalists whether church schools and independent schools will be forced to adopt the new system, he said that talks will be held with these schools and that those that wish to retain the current system can do so but the ministry will be helping those schools that are interested in adopting the new system.