Maltese education is undergoing crisis management, said Labour MP Roderick Galdes yesterday in parliament.

Parliament was discussing the second reading of the Education Act.

Only 45 per cent of students are taking up post-secondary studies when at least 85 per cent should do so according to criteria set by the Lisbon Agenda.

“These figures show us that there is something lacking in our system,” he said.

Mr Galdes pointed out that that local trades need to be given an extra push.

There is the urgent need for local empirical research to draw up a plan for the educational sector.

Labour MP Silvio Parnis suggested opening schools in the evening for students and families who cannot afford a computer.

“Students who have social problems and cannot afford an internet connection and a computer should be able to make use of computer labs in school,” he said.

“There are many parents who are not concerned about their children's education and if certain teachers do not look out for these children, they will be lost,” he added.

“It is the state’s duty to help these children with social problems.”

Even though the rate of illiteracy is decreasing, there are still many youths and children who are illiterate, he added.

Labour MP Justyne Caruana pointed out that everyone has different talents which need to be developed. “The educational system must provide an outlet for all students.”

Since the Malta College of Arts and Sciences (MCAST) was set up instead of the trade schools, a number of students without the necessary

qualifications are left out of the system.

She called for special programmes for these students to fully maximise their potential.

Mrs Caruana said a number of students were not passing the entrance exams for Junior Lyceum and are placed in special classes.

She mentioned an experiment in Gozo where these students wear a standard uniform and are placed in classes which are named after flowers.

Instead of segregating the students, this method had a positive impact on their performance.

There is the need for a strategy for information technology in Malta’s educational system, said Labour spokesperson for foreign affairs and information technology Leo Brincat.

Although a lot of work is done on committee level on research and development, more needs to be done on the executive level, he pointed out.

Labour government will introduce interactive white boards and projectors will be introduced in all classrooms, he added.

All schools need to be internally networked and adequate training for teachers will be provided.

Unless there is e-inclusion among all students, a large sector of society will be excluded from progress.

There are no ongoing state sponsored educational programmes on IT which cater for all sectors of society.

E-learning is not a new trend but is something essential to everyone, he added. “You can’t have a knowledge based economy unless the labour market is restructured.”

Not only must work be more accessible to young people, but it must also be more attractive through incentives, added Dr Brincat.

A Labour government will set up a go-digital awareness campaign. Instead of only promoting a hypothetical e-business, e-business policies will be implemented.

Dr Brincat called for more multiculturalism in the educational system. “If we emphasis the importance of living in a multicultural society from a young age, we will live in a more tolerant society with less bigots.”

Nationalist MPs Jason Azzopardi and Mario Galea also spoke during yesterday’s sitting.