A working group which drafted recommendations on a reform of post-secondary education is urging the government to consider opening a new sixth form college in the south of Malta and also to encourage private schools to open their own sixth forms.

The recommendation is one of several included in a report published on Monday, which also urged the authorities to ditch the contemporary exam-oriented education model and opt for one that places higher emphasis on 21st century skills. These include critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills.

But one of the most interesting among the 26 proposals is that to increase the number of sixth forms in Malta. “There is agreement that one state sixth form in Naxxar and another in Rabat Gozo are not sufficient to provide the depth and flexibility required during the post-secondary period. Policy-makers should support the establishment of new, smaller sixth form colleges in Malta and Gozo.  The Education Ministry should determine the feasibility of a new state sixth form, and how it can also support initiatives from the private sector,” the working group recommended.  

It urged the Education Ministry to develop a feasibility report on a new sixth form college that would consider logistics, infrastructure, pedagogy, human resources and budgets.

“There is a compelling argument for the establishment of a sixth form in a new location in Malta, particularly in the south of the island,” the report says, adding that the ministry has data to suggest that more people from the north tend to go to Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School while more students from the south tend to go to MCAST.

“These two institutions were meant to attract students not on the basis of locality but on the basis of whether they want to follow an academic or a VET (Vocational Education and Training) route. The new college could be strategically positioned between the ‘large-scale preparation for university approach’ adopted by Junior College and the secondary school mode employed by GCHSS.”

In the meantime the government is also being urged to incentivize public schools to open their own sixth forms, mentioning how schools like San Anton or San Andrea do not currently offer post-secondary education.

It said encouraging existing secondary schools to set up sixth forms has a number of advantages, including a seamless student transition from secondary to post-secondary level.  Also, more students may potentially be encouraged to further their education and the formal education experience of students will be considered from 5 to 18 rather than to 16 years.