Maltese children want a cleaner environment, slimmer syllabi, more physical education, more arts and music taught at school and less stress, while they would certainly like to avoid the postponement of Matriculation and Secondary (MATSEC) exams.
Children from Maria Assumpta Girls’ Secondary School, Mqabba Primary School, St Martin’s College, St Joseph’s School Blata l-Bajda, Agius de Soldanis Girls’ Junior Lyceum and Secondary School, Gozo, the Girl Guides and the Commission for Children made their requests on Thursday during a special parliamentary session where the children could speak their mind.
Deputy Speaker Carmelo Abela began the session by saying prayers. Then he explained to the children that the prayer is said at the beginning of each session so that God will illuminate members to work in the best interests of the country. He also explained how parliament works, and briefly described the committee stage and other stages preceding the enacting of a bill. He said children are usually asked to listen to adults; however the time had come for them to voice their concerns and hopes. He said that children should have more opportunities to speak their minds to adults.
The first speakers, who came from Assumpta Girls’ Secondary School, spoke about social inclusion, and called for better advertising of cultural activities. The Girl Guides discussed children’s welfare and asked for more protected places for children to seek recreation.
St Martin’s College students, who discussed education, asked for an arts and music conservatory, the teaching of basic economics to students who do not study commercial subjects, and less exam. stress. The young people chosen by the Commissioner for Children discussed play and leisure and asked the government to finance rock bands in order to encourage more children to take up music and the arts.
Gozo’s Agius de Soldanis Girls’ Junior Lyceum and Secondary School highlighted how the younger generation uses IT, St Joseph’s School Blata l-Bajda asked for more trees and fewer built up areas, while the Mqabba Primary School children voiced their concern over the impact of marriage breakdown on children.
During question time, children took the opportunity to fire their complaints regarding their examinations to Education Minister Louis Galea who, sitting in the opposition benches, countered nearly all the questions with eloquence. A little girl asked for more protection against bullying, while an irritated boy enquired if there was a law prohibiting the teaching of “next year’s syllabus during the previous summer”.
Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina closed the session by expressing her appreciation of the commitment shown by children, and praised them for their presentations. She assured them that the government will continue to work to foster the welfare of children, “who are the backbone of any country’s future, as well as important citizens of the present.”