In what was described as a “historic moment” by both parties, the government and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) signed an agreement yesterday on the reform in the education system, introducing around 70 measures that will improve Malta’s educational system.

As a result of the reform, teachers will have professional support, new tools for teaching and more resources for the classroom.

The reform will be implemented through two central directorates: the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education and the Directorate for Educational Services.

The first directorate will focus on the curriculum and its implementation in the classroom, and the quality of

education in independent, state and government schools will be verified through the Educational Inspectorate.

The Directorate for

Educational Services will be responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient human resources to provide all the necessary educational

services.

Education Minister Louis Galea said that education was very high on the government’s priority list and the government had a very ambitious vision whereby all students would successfully make it through the system.

“We want to offer high quality education for all students – the foundations for this are already in place,” he said.

However, the minister called for a change in mentality whereby the principal focus was no longer on examinations but on a new system of assess-ment that would start from kindergarten.

MUT president John Bencini described the signing of the agreement as a “historic moment” that should facilitate the reform process and the educational system.

“This reform should bring about a radical change in the classroom – if it does not, then this reform will have failed,” he said.

The leadership and direction of schools would change as of today, said Mr Bencini. “They will no longer work in isolation but will be linked to a system of colleges.”

The MUT president spoke about the immense pressure and competition for children to do well in their exams.

“Schools should be student-friendly and should not be seen solely as the place where exams are held,” he said.

However, he added, the success of the reform depended on how it was implemented by the people working in the educational system.

“Not only will the reform provide support for teachers and staff, but teachers now have the opportunity to further their careers,” said Mr Bencini.

The reform focuses on early childhood education and care, as can be seen in the new measures that specify that, by 2010, kindergarten assistants will be required to have a diploma. By 2015, anyone who works with kindergarten children must be a qualified teacher with a degree and a warrant, as laid down by law.

Furthermore, each kindergarten class will have various tools, including a computer, to be used as part of the teaching process.

The counselling services will be different from the career guidance section. Students will also be able to make the most of a multi-disciplinary team comprised of psychologists, social workers, youth workers, health and safety officers, discipline prefects and other health care professionals.

The reform will also implement a process of formative assessment, profiling and portfolios that will follow a student’s process over the years, starting from kindergarten.

As from 1 January 2008, the allowances of teachers, including heads of school, assistant heads and educational officials will be improved.

According to the agreement, all instructors who have a permanent teaching warrant will be called teachers and will have the same rights and opportunities as teachers.

Within the next few weeks, calls for applications for the various vacancies, including heads of school to director-general, will be issued.

Facilitators will now be called “learning support assistants” and a call for applications for people with the required diploma or certificate will be issued shortly.