The debate will be a continuation of a renewal process that the sector has been undergoing over these past years, key features of which are the introduction of the National Minimum Curriculum (NMC) and the establishment of the Foundation for Educational Services (FES), he explained. The minister was speaking at a press conference to welcome the HSBC Education Trust UK CEO Mary Richardson, who is in Malta to visit two sites where FES runs family learning support programmes sponsored by HSBC. The UK Trust had donated FES some £30,000 earlier this year.

Dr Galea recalled Dame Richardson’s first visit in 2001, during which the trust had donated £12,000 to the foundation shortly after it was set up. He said that back then the National Minimum Curriculum had just been launched and added that he hoped that her visit brought the same luck to the educational sector reform as it did the first time with the introduction of the NMC.

FES chairman Kenneth Wain explained that there were three family learning initiatives currently undertaken by the foundation at various state schools across Malta and Gozo. He said that through HSBC’s support the programme was extended to another two schools.

The family-focused programmes are held after school hours. The Parent-to-Parent courses, Prof. Wain explained, are developed jointly by parents and specially trained support teachers. The course focuses on themes identified by parents whose children attend schools hosting an FES Parent-in Education initiative.

The Nwar Programme, running twice weekly between 3.30pm and 6.45pm, provides learning support within the family literacy context to children aged eight to 13 who have difficulties with literacy. The programme offers children and young people, referred by student support services, one-to-one support for an hour twice a week, throughout a semester. 50 families are being catered for during the current semester in Birkirkara and Hamrun.

HSBC Cares for Children Fund Malta chairperson Catherine Gonzi was also present at the press conference. She thanked Dame Richardson for her interest in the Maltese educational system, emphasising that the funding HSBC had supplied over the years to the local sector had made a great difference and was going towards a noble cause.