I get the feeling that this is how changes are made in our educational system: we go round in circles and adopt past practices that were later done away with. I got this feeling when I heard that vocational subjects are being introduced at secondary level. This is like introducing trade schools at secondary level which was abolished years ago. Years ago we adopted the system of trying to set a common curriculum for all till Form 5, although choosing to keep certain subjects in Form 3.

I think that introducing vocational subjects from Form 3 is not beneficial to students. It is better to have a common curriculum set for all which celebrates multiple intelligences than to introduce certain vocational subjects to some. Celebrating multiple intelligences is needed by all students: all students should engage not only in intellectual activity but also in physical activity, drama, music, and so on, which would help them develop all around. Setting a common core curriculum and leaving vocational subjects and specialization for later would enable us to find time for the much-needed media education, a much-needed tool for our times, and a time set to help students learn skills and to continue to learn through lifelong learning.

 

Joe Portelli

Nadur