Further education in Malta is relatively new in broad society whilst we still have remnants of the past who cling tenaciously to their political leader and the party machine for their source of propaganda. The effect of tertiary education on Maltese youth has yet to be felt across the country or it may be that education has lost some of its value in the sense that it offers training for a career but not so much in the way of enlightenment for the mind.
In many ways today, a degree is thought of as a “course”, as though the two are interchangeable and equivalent. The proposed changes to the definition of a university may reflect this mentality. A kind of factory line of graduates being churned out on the basis of credits or modules.
A university education should be first and foremost a journey into learning. That is why, too, travel and social exchanges are so encouraged on the wider level, as is the use of the English language. For many students, though, the emphasis is on passing an exam, getting there in the shortest time possible and excluding thought and distraction in favour of study and certificates.
Those who enjoyed reading as a child, whose parents encouraged them to play, imagine and enquire will realise the value of an education that goes beyond a job and a career and with it, money. There is also the perception that the value of a “course” depends on how much it can relate to money. Vocational studies are not as popular as they used to be. Teaching was considered a vocation, as was nursing. But with materialism growing ever more present in people’s mind, the value of an education has been distorted and is seen as a commodity.
Otherwise how would it have been possible to continue to play on the perceived or legitimate grievances of people to the extent that they cooperated wholeheartedly in the Movement? The underlying issues of societal division are still alive in Malta and no amount of progress has yet been able to extinguish the sense of division and entitlement prevailing till today.
It was the first thing that Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, as Prime Minister of Malta wanted to eliminate when he came to power – the two class society, the division between Labour and Nationalist, the us and them. Some say that in trying to achieve this change, the balance was wrong and in turn led to new grievances. The great effort that was made to fix the education sector had positive results and many new students, from all around Malta, south, north and central, from all classes, gained access to a wonderful opportunity to pursue a new future.
When he was made President of Malta, though, much of the sense of reconciliation was lost. Everyone could see that he was a good President, but that was beside the point. At the least, it gave rise to old propaganda being re-churned into a tool for maintaining the past conflicts in the mind of people.
And since societal division could now only be presented as financial advantages of one class over another, the mantra of corruption on the one hand and “baruni” on the other was well placed to recreate the animosity and prejudice of the past, which though emarginated still smouldered.
Appeasement has come for many in the way of lucrative jobs, pensions, lands and rehabilitation at any price. For many of those who have benefited there was no viable alternative – it had to be Labour. For those who presented their switch as the noble choice, the reality could not be further from the underlying issues presented in the argument.
Never before have we seen such exploitation and exacerbation of political spin, to the extent that it is done with tacit acceptance from remnants of society who would otherwise have to forsake their own identity to oppose it. The nature of “winning”, of gaining victory over the enemy, is still a strong emotion in many and they are loathe to give away their one convincing ambition – recognition.
How best to become recognised if not by increased ownership and power, and with it, money? To be in the Opposition here, means that by default you are deprived of ownership and therefore you are being treated badly and discriminated against. So, Malta is for All really means “You can’t hog the island for yourself the whole time”. Any fair and democratic progress that has been made in the country, economically, in health, education and other sectors pales into insignificance before this ‘legitimate’ right to recognition and ownership.
Patriotism has never been very strong in Malta. We switched before in the past from France to Britain, from sword to cross. Our island has been plundered several times. Lands have become the most sought after status symbol. Everywhere you go you can overhear anxious men on their mobile negotiating with lawyers and architects on their next acquisition. The conversation is the same. An education will not change that for now. But it is good that there are architects and lawyers and electricians and plumbers to build us a big house, enough to maintain a zoo full of exotic animals whose proper place is in the equatorial jungle. Nowadays, a canary just doesn’t cut it. And it is good that there is one-stop shop nowadays for land shopping and permits, with your own concierge service.
Once all the land is taken and all the trees and valleys are gone, then maybe, the mind will seek the real treasure of knowledge for our children, so they can really be themselves, happy and free from greed and blind ambition, giving instead of taking, confident and wise. No amount of wealth and construction can buy that. Sometimes it is best to be the Opposition.