The difference between training and education is that one teaches you to do the other teaches you to think and possibly how to do it better.  Here in Malta, there can be quite an unnatural confusion between the two because even at university level, people talk of a “course” when reading for a degree.  Properly speaking, a course is a defined module of training relating to a particular subject or skill.  Nothing to do with a tertiary or secondary qualification. 

You may want to do a course in Business English, for example, if you were a foreign student who wanted to study Economics or Commerce at tertiary level and get a degree.  Graduates study Arts and Science and each includes various faculties, such as English Literature in the Arts group and Medicine in the Sciences. 

But, in order to grasp the ability to do something here on our windy island and bring it to the level of the masses, we speak of a Course of Medicine, meaning studying to graduate as a Medical Doctor and not a treatment as prescribed.

Prime Minister Dom Mintoff’s contribution to education did not help to raise the understanding and appreciation of learning, at all and reduced it to a series of courses where you are trained for the job market.  So, where before you would graduate with a degree in English and be able to work as a teacher with that qualification, that was cast aside and it became a Teacher’s course.

The faculties that remained mainly intact were the Law and Medical faculty.  There was simply no other way to work as a lawyer.  The Medical had also suffered due to the Doctor’s strike.

In Socialist thought, it was considered a waste of time to learn how to develop good judgement, how to rationalize and think and make a contribution to society even by creative thinking.  If it wasn’t material, it was useless.  History too, would illuminate minds on the nature of mankind and the path of life.  The European Union, for example, was the fruit of coming together after many years of division, war and lack of cooperation.  Today, students study European Studies or they get a Diploma or Masters degree in Diplomatic Studies.  Both can lead to a good career but they are also important as a way of learning about humanity and politics, much as learning Literature can do. 

In its concept, education is meant to help humans make good judgement in what they do and help them in life to discern morals and character and build integrity.

So, it is quite clear that there exists a dissonance with having a Minister for Education who is found to be in bad judgement and lacking integrity.

The issue arose over those people who thought that it was a good thing and within their rights, to maintain a vigil and a memorial which would commemorate a soul who contributed enormously to society through her work and who was the victim of a brutal crime, which was still under investigation.

The Minister, Owen Bonnici, at the time Minister for Justice and Culture, judged the matter from the opposite view.  He ensured that the memorial would not be left there for the public to think about and he judged that this was in the best interest of society.

So, the matter was taken to court, where such points of differing judgement are settled by a Judge who evaluates both arguments and applies not only the Law but also a thought process based on an educated judgement.

The judgement delivered by the court was that Minister Bonnici had not judged the issue properly, had caused division by his actions and had deprived the public of their freedom of expression.

Now, if we cannot expect our Representatives to have good judgement, sound morals and able to take decisions that serve humanity, what then do we expect from them?  Pompous behaviour, a skill at enriching themselves, obeying an immoral order out of fear, self-interest or a mis-guided sense of justice? 

Other people are qualified with a sound sense of judgement because they have learnt in the University of Life, the streets and the suffering of others or their personal experiences and they then have the ability to empathise and apply knowledge which is sometimes lacking in a formal education. 

Sadly, though, it is crystal clear that so many elected Representatives are not fit for purpose.  Every decision they made was so poorly motivated that it lacked even the basis to convince us of any truth.

It is also crystal clear that the Ministry of Education is the most ill-fitting portofolio that can be given to Bonnici and that under the glaring failure to make a good judgement, he is not qualified and should actually resign altogether from public service for the harm caused.

There are other examples of bad judgment by politicians, like the case of the Panama Papers or that of the adventurous Minister who spent time in a different type of conference.  Recently also, we got to know of the FIAU board member and Deputy Commissioner found to be in a compromising relationship with a police suspect.  These are bad judgements and when challenged in court, are clearly deemed to be so.  Libel cases are dropped by the plaintiff when it is clear that their defence is one of a personal judgement and not a national interest judgement.

So much of Muscat’s government is a mélange of personal judgements.  Perhaps that is why they score so well in trust ratings.  People equate their personal freedom to personal judgements.  So, if a Minister made a personal choice to have an account in Panama then it means we have freedom and our rights are our own, not accountable to society.  It also reflects the level of education that we have in our country and the dominant individual rather than the common good.

Learning to have good judgement is an essential quality for a politician.  If you are an engineer and you do not have the proper training for the job, you could end up killing people when a bridge collapses.  There is a responsibility to be carried.

I suppose, if we had to make a list of all the bad judgements of the Muscat term in office and hold people to account, then we will end up without a cabinet.  But that is no reason to dismiss the consequences of their actions.

It is said that the public sees differently and they trust, for example, the new Prime Minister and his recent decisions.   To them, these decisions demonstrate good judgement and there is a positive perception that things will get better.

Well, this week, we had the most tragic and shameful femicide.  There were those around the suspect who felt he could be trusted and someone must have gone as far as calling him to let him know that the woman was in the bar.  Is it ever good judgement to kill a woman?  To be responsible for domestic violence?  How comfortable have we become with violence and murder?  How do we judge a situation?  Prejudice is the exculpatory factor for many crimes.

Prejudice against those who protest.  Prejudice against the opposition.  Against teachers and parents.  Against women.  The right to life.  Race and colour.  Against free speech, intellectuals, culture and the media.  And with prejudice comes pride so that no one should be punished or carry blame for hurting someone.

Is this the way we want our children to be educated?  Maybe many prefer to have earners rather than students, who are able to fit in with the crowd. 

Britain has deprived its youth of a chance at being in the EU and benefitting from its opportunities in education and culture.  We, at this point, are depriving our youth and children of a right to choose.  Of a right to choose education over training or having both, of learning good judgement, tolerance and good relations amongst our fellow citizens, of a culture of peace and security.  We are stressing division over understanding. Calculation over empathy.

When the system fails and we are comfortable with that, where is the integrity?