Heritage Malta is in the process of transforming its museums and sites from places concerned with a traditional display of artefacts to active-learning centres where people can avail themselves of a tailor-made experience. In order to be able to cater for the needs of students, Heritage Malta has embarked on a project in a bid to enhance the museum experience that the students receive.

An Education Unit has been set up within Heritage Malta to provide an inclusive educational experience for children of all ages. One of the main functions of this newly established unit, Heritage Malta said, is to design and implement a number of educational programmes earmarked for each site and museum that falls under its responsibility.

The educational experience is divided in three parts. These are class preparation before the visit itself, the actual visit and the follow-up in class. All these require the involvement of the teachers who are a crucial element in the whole programme. The unit is publishing workbooks for primary and secondary school level and accompanying resource books for teachers. The resource books provide the teachers with the material required for a fruitful cultural visit.

The education programmes are based on the guidelines found in the National Minimum Curriculum and the syllabuses followed in both primary and secondary schools. In the near future new programmes will be launched to consolidate the success achieved so far in the museums where such activities are available. The response of the students and teachers has been very positive and the programmes very well received, Heritage Malta said.