The Education Division has published this document as part of a process to strengthen the good practice of school development planning in Malta.
The natural sequence of school development planning is Performance Management Programming. This is based on the knowledge each teacher has of school development planning.
The Performance Management Programme is a process whereby every member of staff will indicate their personal contribution towards the implementation of the school development plan. Thus a complete and comprehensive tool is developed to help schools to ensure excellence in the education they impart.
Dr Galea emphasised that this publication is to serve as an effective tool to help Maltese schools gradually evaluate their own work in the key areas of their activity.
“Consequently, they will identify their strengths and weaknesses. They will subsequently seek ways in which to maintain their strong sectors and to formulate and carry out action plans to correct their weaknesses,” Dr Galea said.
Dr Galea explained that school development planning is the process whereby schools prioritise the various development needs that arise from self-evaluation of their school community and their own practice and procedures, and then address the development priorities of the local authority and central government. This is an essential tool for schools in managing resources and workload issues.
Dr Galea said this form of evaluation also helps the central authority identify the schools that require support in specific areas, and to identify examples of good practice.
Dr Galea said we also need to start thinking of a new legislative framework that places greater emphasis upon setting targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time related.
School Development Planning is a process designed to guide and focus a school towards the achievement of its mission and outcomes – enhanced student learning. While a plan is developed within the national context strategic education plans, it must also reflect the uniqueness of the local school environment, he concluded.