For one to pass at an O level examination, the minimum requirement is a grade five or better, with grade one the highest mark achievable. But recent results classified those who obtained a grade six or seven as a pass mark.

In order for students to further their post-secondary studies at the Junior College or any other sixth form, they have to pass a minimum of six examinations, which include the three basic subjects of English, Maltese, mathematics, a science subject of their choice, which normally tends to be physics, since most schools still offer physics as a compulsory subject, and any other two subjects.

On the other hand, admissions for the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) programmes vary, depending on the level of the programmes and courses applied for, yet most courses require minimum O level pass rates in English, Maltese and mathematics.

The figures of those who passed their O level examinations were released last Wednesday, with the Education Ministry expressing delight that almost 90 per cent of students who sat for their secondary education certificate this year passed their basic subjects.

“This is an utterly ridiculous and blatant lie,” said the Labour Party’s spokesperson for education, Evarist Bartolo, when he was asked about the figure, before adding that “it is shameful for the government to give a different picture of reality to the situation out there”.

Mr Bartolo, who a few weeks ago criticised Education Minister Dolores Cristina for being “Malta’s worst ever Education Minister of the past 20 years” after Malta’s suspension from the EU’s funding of the Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning programmes, said it is unfair for Mrs Cristina’s ministry to pull the wool over the people’s eyes by including those students, who have obtained grades of six and seven in their examinations, which is equivalent to a failure, with those who passed for their O level examinations.

When asked to confirm figures for those who have passed their Maltese, English, mathematics, physics and computer studies exams, a spokesperson for the ministry replied as follows:

“Progress has been registered, when compared with previous years, in the overall pass rate of both Paper A and Paper B subjects.

“65.9 per cent of students who applied passed their Maltese exams, 78.3 per cent passed their English exams and 74.3 per cent passed their maths exams, a significant leap when compared with figures of years past,” said the spokesperson.

However, the figures include those who obtained a grade six and seven in their results.

In reality, which is what is being pointed out by Mr Bartolo, the pass rate for those who sat in 2010 for their Maltese exams is 55 per cent, with 57 per cent of those who applied passing their English exam and 52 per cent passing their maths exams.

With regard to physics, the most popular science subject, and computer studies, the importance of which continues to increase in an ever changing technological world, pass rates for the two subjects were 63 per cent and 74 per cent respectively.

Looking at previous pass rate figures of Maltese, English and maths, it appears that while the number of those who have passed Maltese has decreased, progress has been recorded in the number of students passing in English and maths.

In 2008, 58.6 per cent passed their Maltese exam, while in 2009 there was a regression of two per cent, as 56 per cent passed the same exam.

In 2008, 55.1 per cent passed their English exam, and a year later the number of those who passed their English exam increased to 56.7 per cent.

With regard to maths, in 2008, a total of 52 per cent passed the subject, and the figure increased to 64 per cent in 2009.

One in every four obtaining six or more O’ levels

“With Malta having one of the highest rates of school leavers in the EU, accurate figures show that approximately one out of every two persons is not passing examinations in Maltese, English and maths.

“Nevertheless, instead of facing the facts, the Education Ministry prefers to shower the public with deceit,” said Mr Bartolo.

According to the education shadow minister, a total of 5,621 students applied for some sort of O’ level examination or other this scholastic year.

However, last year, a total of 7,378 applied for the same examinations, and worryingly enough, the number of students who achieved six O’ level passes, which is needed to further their post-secondary studies at sixth-form level, was 1,933, 887 of whom were males and 1,046 were females. On a percentage level, this is equivalent to 26 per cent – just over one in every four.

In 2008, a total of 7,879 applied for O’ level examinations, and a total of 2,035 students – 911 males and 1,124 females – obtained six O’ level passes or more, equivalent once again to almost 26 per cent.

“Even though total figures for this year have not been released, these figures show that the government is repeatedly failing to address Malta’s depressingly high rate of early school leavers, and the country is facing a stiff challenge to have a highly qualified and skilled working force in the near future,” said Mr Bartolo, who added that there is no statistic as yet of those who attended five years of secondary education but who, for no specific reason, opted against applying for their O’ level exams, “which practically means that they have already been forgotten about”.