This is one of the points that Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea stressed in a statement issued on the eve of the first day of school.
In the statement, Dr Galea welcomes the 5,000 staff and over 40,000 students, attending public schools to the new scholastic year 2004/2005, while making reference to the new measures and regulations being taken to improve the system.
The points outlined in the minister’s statement include reference to a memo issued by the Director General in which teachers were given a dress code and general guidelines for their behaviour and jargon. Teachers are also reminded that smoking in class or in front of students is strictly prohibited.
Dr Galea pointed out that this week, public schools will receive a memo giving cleanliness guidelines. “Staff refusing to carry out cleaning work under the pretext that it is not their job will not be tolerated. There will be regular checks to ensure that these guidelines are followed,” the statement says.
Making reference to the work the ministry will be undertaking in the coming year, Dr Galea mentioned a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the educational system, making reference to the revision of the national minimum curriculum and the drafting of a new law that, among other things, will feature the establishment of an educational authority that will have autonomy over the full spectrum of education, in line with the principle of life-long-learning.
Dr Galea mentions how, over the past few months, the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools has carried out necessary maintenance work in time for the opening of the schools to student today. There will still be some construction work at schools, where extensions are being constructed and arrangements have been made for this work to cause only negligible disruption to the classes.
In his statement, the minister also outlined some future plans for the sector, saying that this month the government will be presented with a strategy for the modernisation of state schools. When approved, the plan will include an investment of Lm60 million over the next eight years.
Towards the end of his statement, Dr Galea referred to the recent Beslan tragedy, and called on everyone to spare a moment to reflect over the horrid fate of those children, also on their first day of school.
On a more positive note, however, Dr Galea concluded by saying that education is the key to an active society, and encouraged all those involved – parents and teachers alike – to help make the educational experience as effective and enjoyable as possible.