I would like to comment on the criticism by Dr Martin Spillane entitled Future Education (TMIS, 12 October) in reply to my letter (TMIS, 5 October).

First and foremost, part of his criticism is more about other systems of education than the one to which I referred.

He did say, however, that my system is not feasible in terms of staff, etc. I beg to differ. When three-year-olds are playing with tablets, it is high time that tablets are introduced in the educational system.

It is much more efficient to have a group of programmers preparing topics for everyone to use than having several teachers preparing the same lesson notes -after a hard day's work. Moreover, there are already interactive programmes on the internet, therefore the students would be able to discuss and interact over the material on the topic in question. They could also discuss the topic with the teacher or the other students in the time allocated to socialising.

Such a system, far from limiting study to a few subjects, opens the door to so many subjects that at present are not taught in school. For instance, how many school children have heard of anthropology? When a student is curious to know how, let's say, a mobile works he/she would be exposed to so many inter-related disciplines.

At present, a student is made to study many subjects in which he has no interest for many years so that one day he might be allowed to study and do research in the subject of his choice. When I mentioned psychiatry, I did mention that they should have a general idea of medicine.

Moreover, Dr Spillane misunderstood completely what I said about the school-leaving certificate. This certificate should show what a child has achieved. One child has learned how to look after itself, whilst another is capable of working or carrying out research in engineering and yet another could work as a hairdresser, for example.

When students want to satisfy their curiosity, they use important skills that will help them throughout life and will be more prepared to adapt to new circumstances

 

Josephine Gatt-Ciancio

 

Kalkara