The Malta Independent 13 February 2025, Thursday
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Ethics in schools: 1,400 students do not attend religion classes

Malta Independent Saturday, 25 January 2014, 11:35 Last update: about 12 years ago

1,411 students who attend state schools do not sit for religion lessons and this number is set to rise, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this morning. Mr Bartolo was speaking during a national seminar on the introduction of ethics education in state schools.

As reported on this website yesterday, the classes will be offered to students, primarily foreigners, who do not sit for religion classes. The subject is expected to be introduced at the start of the next scholastic year in September alongside other reforms planned in government schools, including co-ed education and middle classes. 

Mr Bartolo said that there is an urgent need to address this situation because students cannot afford to waste time. “The biggest challenge is deciding on a syllabus and implementing it.”

The Education Minister said that education is not all about employability and these classes will help these young students in their formation. Subjects will include values like honesty, non-violence and respect towards others.

“Although this is not a subject we are still deciding on how these classes will be assessed. I don’t think that there should be exams. We are considering the possibility of projects, but these will definitely not be anything like the Systems of Knowledge projects.”

 

PN offers support, warns against rushed introduction

PN shadow minister for education Joe Cassar said that the Opposition recognizes the importance of introducing ethics classes and will be offering its support but warned the government not to rush as it had done in other sectors.

“This step is both important and timely. But timely does not mean that these classes should be introduced immediately and without a proper assessment. Let us not rush into things.”

Dr Cassar said that the complained that a preview of the conference indicated that the government had already taken all the decisions and hoped that this was not the case and that the proper consultation exercise will be carried out. He insisted that the authorities should assess the demand for these classes and ensure that teachers are well prepared to teach them. This would ensure that these classes are sustainable. “This is a genuine appeal, not party politics,” Dr Cassar said.

AD spokesman on education Mario Mallia also welcomed the introduction of ethics classes that will replace the “this or nothing mentality.” He also suggested that religion classes could be expanded to include ethics as well.

 

‘Not enough teachers’

The Malta Independent today quoted sources saying that this introduction is being introduced rather hastily. The education department is still to identify enough teachers who have the ability to teach such a subject, and is not in a position to confirm how many will be needed.

There are also issues with regard to timetables and space availability in schools, and it has yet to be determined whether all schools will have their own ethics teacher or whether there will be a system in which ethics teachers will be teaching the subject in different schools on different days.

Contacted by The Malta Independent, Malta Union of Teachers president Kevin Bonello said the union is in favour of a new subject that runs in parallel with religion, thus offering students who do not want to take religion classes to be given a different opportunity. But the union is concerned that the idea is to be implemented too soon because the administrative set-up is still to be planned.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-01-24/news/ethics-to-be-offered-in-government-schools-instead-of-religion-as-from-september-3770875906/

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