Malta

Basic Data
Official Country Name:	Republic of Malta
Region:	Europe
Population:	391,670
Language(s):	Maltese, English
Literacy Rate:	88%
Academic Year:	September-July
Compulsory Schooling:	11 years
Foreign Students in National Universities:	62
Libraries:	3
Educational Enrollment:	Primary: 35,273
	Secondary: 34,128
	Higher: 8,260
Educational Enrollment Rate:	Primary: 107%
	Secondary: 84%
	Higher: 29%
Teachers:	Primary: 1,824
	Secondary: 3,180
	Higher: 709
Student-Teacher Ratio:	Primary: 19:1
	Secondary: 11:1
Female Enrollment Rate:	Primary: 107%
	Secondary: 82%
	Higher: 32%

History & Background

The Republic of Malta is a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Sicily. It consists of the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino and two small uninhabited islands, Cominotto and Filfla. Malta occupies 316 square kilometers (122 square miles). The main island of Malta is 246 square kilometers (95 square miles). In 2000 the population was estimated at 391,670, making the country one of the most densely populated nations in the world. The inhabitants speak Maltese and English, both of which are official languages. The population is 98 percent Roman Catholic. The literacy rate is approximately 88 percent. Principal industries include shipping, construction, and tourism.

Malta's strategic location and natural harbors have made it an important military objective for nations seeking to control the Mediterranean. In 1814 Malta became a British crown colony. During WWII the British used Malta as a base of operations to attack convoys carrying supplies to Axis forces in North Africa. The Germans and Italians subjected the island to relentless bombing. In recognition, King George VI awarded the George Cross "to the island fortress of Malta—its people and defenders."

After the war, Malta was granted increasing degrees of independence on local matters but remained a British colony and became a NATO base. In 1964 Malta obtained its independence, becoming a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth as the head of state, represented by a governor general. In 1974, it became a republic, severing allegiance to Britain. Traditionally allied with Western Europe, Malta proclaimed itself nonaligned after the socialist Labor Party won elections in 1971. The Labor prime minister, Dom Mintoff, distanced Malta from Britain and the West, refusing to allow NATO to renew base leases and actively courting the Soviet Union. Malta broke defense ties with Britain and granted Soviet ships use of refueling facilities built by NATO. Mintoff opposed the Roman Catholic Church, a traditionally powerful institution on the islands. His policies to restrict its role, especially in education, were highly controversial.

In 1987 the Nationalist Party assumed power and reversed many of Mintoff's socialist policies, resuming ties with Britain and other NATO countries. With the collapse of socialism in Eastern Europe, Malta has sought to integrate itself into the European Union.

The educational system in Malta was founded on British models and greatly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church. Since independence the educational system has undergone substantial and often contradictory changes. The philosophy guiding education has reflected the conflicting views of the rival Nationalist and Labor parties.

In the 1970s the Labor Party imposed a socialist vision of education. The British system of testing and tracking students was denounced as hierarchical and discriminatory. Public schools were reorganized and competency testing largely abandoned to promote equality. Desiring to rid Malta of what he called "elitism," Mintoff sought to eliminate private and church education. In 1984 the government closed eight leading Catholic academies, replacing them with four state-operated institutions. Later that year, Mintoff announced that private schools would no longer be allowed to charge tuition and banned the archbishop from visiting public schools. Graduates of state schools were given preference in admission to higher education, and government grants to church schools were eliminated. Mintoff's attack on Catholic schools, which enrolled 25 percent of high school students, angered parents, church officials, and political opponents.

Labor policies reorganized higher education, stressing vocational rather than academic courses. Departments in liberal arts and sciences were disbanded. The polytechnic was merged into the prestigious University of Malta. Seeking to link higher education with employment, a compulsory student-worker program was introduced in 1978. College students were required to work six months a year and study six months a year. Admissions to higher education were determined by the availability of employment rather than academic achievement. These policies and the government's increasing press censorship led to an exodus of educators and intellectuals.

In 1987 the Nationalist Party was elected to power and reversed many educational policies, reintroducing the British use of competency testing and tracking. Private schools were allowed greater freedom, though the government monitored standards, course content, and credentials. The work study programs were dismantled, so that entrance to higher education was based solely on academic achievement. Subsequent Labor governments have modified but not reversed these reforms, having renounced Mintoff's highly ideological approach to education.

Constitutional & Legal Foundations

The Nationalist reforms were formalized in the Education Act of 1988, which provided free compulsory education, expanded scholarships, and called for the development of technological research and training. The Education Act recognized the role of church and private schools in education, eliminated compulsory work-study programs for university students, and reestablished competency testing. The 1988 Act expanded compulsory education by one year and obligated the state to provide free university education to all qualified students.

In November 1991 the Republic of Malta and the Holy See signed an agreement on Roman Catholic schools. The state recognized the church's right to establish and direct its own schools, and Catholic schools agreed to observe the National Minimum Curriculum and National Minimum Conditions regulations developed for state schools. Church schools agreed not to charge tuition in return for state financial assistance. Spiritual guidance and noneducational activities are supported by fundraising campaigns, free donations from parents, and other collections. The state guaranteed that teachers in Roman Catholic schools have equal access to scholarships, in-service training, and grants designed for state school faculty.

Educational System—Overview

In Malta education is compulsory from ages 5 to 16. Instruction is given in both Maltese and English. Approximately 30 percent of students attend church and private schools, which are regulated by the Ministry of Education. All special education programs are provided in state schools. Special needs children are mainstreamed as much as possible. The National Minimum Curriculum has made environmental education compulsory in primary and secondary schools. The curriculum is varied, but language studies are given great importance. By law the teachings of the Catholic Church that are taught in Catholic schools must be included in the state school curriculum.

Education in Malta is highly centralized, with national standards and examinations, though schools are encouraged to develop individual identities. Students in state schools complete six years of primary education and then take noncompetitive qualifying examinations for admission into junior lyceums. The first three years of secondary education are followed in either a junior lyceum or secondary school. Students may also enroll in a trade school for vocational training. At the end of secondary education, students take either the University of Malta's Secondary Education Certificate or General Certificate of Education examinations to qualify for university admission.

Approximately 60 percent of Maltese students continue education after completing compulsory studies. In addition to traditional university studies, Malta offers a range of vocational training opportunities. The Extended Skills Training Scheme and Technician Apprenticeship Scheme are provided by the state. Students enrolling in these vocational programs receive allowances.

In 1998 the Ministry of Education announced the need to reform the tertiary education system to produce "a well educated and trainable work force" in order to help Malta compete in a global economy. Government officials, industrial leaders, and educational consultants argued that for too long vocational programs had been largely dismissed as schools for the less able. Recognizing the need for highly trained technicians, greater emphasis was given to reforming vocational education and educating the public about its role and purpose. In the late 1990s Malta devoted a higher percentage of its GDP on education than any other country applying for admission to the European Union, but had the lowest spending of any applicant country on vocational education and training. Experts called for reform to unite the efforts of training programs operated by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor. These programs had long operated independently and failed to coordinate activities. Efforts were made to include female students in engineering and other vocational training programs.

Preprimary & Primary Education

The majority of children attend a state or private kindergarten before beginning primary school. In 1988 the National Minimum Curriculum for kindergartens and primary schools was established. The new curriculum was transformed into specific objectives, and newly designed courses were introduced in 1990. About eleven examinations are given at the end of primary education.

Secondary Education

Secondary education in Malta follows the British model. At the conclusion of their primary studies, students take a comprehensive examination. High achievers are admitted into lyceums designed to prepare them for university admission. Low achievers are sent to general secondary schools to prepare them for employment or vocational training. After completing three years of secondary education, students may enroll in trade schools.

In the 1990s the curriculum in all three levels of secondary education was improved. Great effort was placed on introducing computers and information technology into the lyceums and secondary schools. Trade schools were reformed to offer a more rigorous academic background and a wider range of technology studies to maximize flexibility in the future workforce.

Higher Education

The largest and oldest institution of higher education on the islands is the University of Malta, founded by Jesuits in 1592. It became a state institution in 1769 and was reestablished in 1988. Though financed by the state, the university receives funds from banks and other private enterprises. The university is the highest degree granting institution in Malta and is open to all qualified students. Students receive a monthly stipend. In 1997 there were 7,000 students, including 400 foreign students, enrolled in full or part-time programs. The courses are designed to supply Malta with highly trained professionals in business, civil administration, science, and industry.

The university houses the International Maritime Law Institute and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies. The university is also linked to the Foundation for International Studies and its associated organizations, the International Environmental Institute, the Mediterranean Institute, and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Marine Contamination Hazards.

Recently, the University of Malta has placed emphasis on strengthening its engineering departments and improving its use of information technology. The university has also sought to improve primary and secondary education in Malta and expand links to overseas universities.

Administration, Finance, & Educational Research

The head of the state Education Division is the Director General of Education, appointed from within the teaching profession, who supervises the Directors of Planning and Development, Operations, Further Studies and Adult Education, Student Services and International Relations, Curriculum Management, and Finance and Administration.

The educational administration is highly centralized, though recent efforts have been made to give schools greater freedom of action. The Head Office manages recruitment, deployment, discipline, and staff promotion. Students are assigned to schools according to geographical areas. Textbooks are produced centrally, though individual schools are given funds to purchase ancillary materials. Annual examinations are administered nationally. Half-yearly examinations are school-based.

The total funds allocated for education by the state in 1996 was US$171.9 million (11 percent of the national budget).

A process of decentralization is taking place at all levels of education, encouraging decision-making at the school level. The curriculum is being reviewed in all grades to assure compliance with modern teaching practices. Great emphasis is placed on introducing information technology.

Nonformal Education

In the 1990s adult and evening classes were expanded to meet the needs of students and working professionals. The Further Studies and Adult Education Department began publishing an official catalog of evening courses in 1996. A cable television channel broadcast its first live transmission during an education fair in 1996, initiating a new avenue for distance learning.

Teaching Profession

Teachers are unionized and negotiate with the government on policy, wages, and benefits. The largest teachers' union, the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), was founded in 1919 and now represents teachers at all levels, including university faculty. The Government-Malta Union of Teachers agreement raised teachers' pay grades to those corresponding to Civil Service professionals. The 1998 Education Act recognized teaching as a profession. The state provides scholarships for in-service and professional training for teachers. In the 1990s the Malta Union of Teachers worked to increase the professional status of preschool teachers.

Summary

The Maltese educational system, once highly politicized, now serves to provide students with the academic and technical skills needed to help the country participate in the European economy. Malta's ties to the European Union, expanding tourist industry, and greater dependence on international relations indicates that the government will continue to devote resources to provide students with a quality education.

Bibliography

Altavista. Malta. Available from http://countrywatch.altavista.com.

Education in Malta—Recent Developments. Government of Malta, September 1997. Available from http://www.magnet.mt/home/education/educ5.htm.

Malta. CIA World Factbook 2000. Available from http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mt.html.

The Ministry of Education and National Culture. White Paper for Vocational Education and Training After the Age of 16 Years. 1998. Available from http://www.magnet.mt/home/education/whitepap/.

Monaghan, Peter. "The Return of a Socialist Government Makes Many Academics in Malta Nervous; the Party's Policies in the Past led to an Exodus of Intellectuals." The Chronicle of Higher Education. 43 (18) (10 January 1997): 58.

"School's Out: Mintoff Takes on an Old Enemy." Time 124 (24 September 1984): 43.

University of Malta. University of Malta—History. Available from http://www.um.edu.mt/history.html.

—Mark Connelly