Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has dispelled rumours going around in school corridors among educators that Ordinary or Advanced-level examinations will eventually be removed.

Mr Bartolo was replying to questions made by this newsroom as to whether such rumours were true, in the light of discussions being held to strengthen the examination system.

“We are having a wide discussion and looking to improve the exam system based on 2005 and 2010 reports,” Mr Bartolo said, adding that it is not the case that ‘O’ or ‘A’ levels will be removed.

Contacted, Malta Union of Teachers president Kevin Bonello also said that these were simply rumours spread by an individual who must have misunderstood the concept. He said that to his knowledge, although nothing is set in stone, the discussions focus on a continued approach whereby students are assessed and given a final mark at the end of their secondary education. However, this won’t be the only way students are assessed since they would still have to sit for their exams as well.