Verdala International School may risk losing funds allocated to it by the United States government if it introduces religious studies as compulsory subjects for its students, The Malta Independent on Sunday has learnt.

Sources said that the Maltese government has pressured the school to teach religion and Maltese, which put the school in a difficult position because if it did, it would stop receiving funds from the American government.

When contacted, an American embassy spokesperson commented, “The embassy was recently informed that the school was approached to add religious education to the curriculum. At this time, we do not know details of any planned curriculum changes and therefore cannot comment if there could be an effect on the funding the school receives from the US government.”

VIS headmaster Adam Pleasance also confirmed that the school had discussions with the Education Ministry about offering Maltese and religion classes at the school.

“The issue of both Maltese and religion being taught at Verdala International School has been discussed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and myself at a meeting that I requested. We are together exploring in a very open and constructive way, how to meet the spirit of the Maltese curriculum without compromising our own international programme of studies. Certainly I do not regard our friendly, courteous and helpful discussions with the Permanent Secretary as being ‘pressurised’. As far as US funding is concerned, I believe that the issue relates to whether a school teaches a particular religion as opposed to religion from a cultural or comparative position,” Mr Pleasance explained.

According to the Education Ministry spokesperson, every licensed school in Malta, as is Verdala International School, is bound to adhere to the National Curriculum, and therefore teach both religion and Maltese. Religious studies in Malta are based on the theology of Roman Catholicism rather than on a comparative study of different religions.

However, the perspective of the National Curriculum, which is now 10 years old, is only focused on Maltese schools catering for a mainly Maltese population.

A Curriculum Review Committee led by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education is currently updating this foundational document in line with today’s increasingly multicultural reality, the educational challenges of the 21st century and the increase of international schools in Malta, among other challenges. The special character of international schools needs to be recognised in harmony with the universal entitlement of learners to a holistic and balanced educational experience, said the spokesperson.

Verdala International School was founded in Malta to meet the needs of foreign families who decide to settle on the island, or for Maltese families who seek a different style of education. The school is located inside Fort Pembroke and adjacent annexe in St Andrew’s. The school’s child-centred philosophy means it has a dual approach that focuses both on academic disciplines as well as on electives like art, drama, computers and music. Social education, whereby students care for their environment and participate in social projects, is part and parcel of school life. The academic programme is leavened with visits to museums and art galleries that abound on these islands. There are field trips to fisheries, experimental farms, and when possible to other areas of the Mediterranean. Each class is encouraged to have a social project for each year. Education at VIS is an experiential process of learning and ‘doing’.