"She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails." - Elizabeth Edwards, American author. 

In the light of the rapid spread of Covid-19, the World Economic Forum (WEF) stresses the importance of building resilience to face threats from the pandemic, climate insecurity and the rapid technological change we are experiencing minute by minute.

Resilience

The WEF also observed that the pandemic is an opportunity to remind us of the skills students need in this unpredictable world, that is, informed decision-making, creative problem-solving and above all, adaptability. To ensure these skills remain a priority for all students, resilience must also be built into our educational systems.

The WEF observes that in many countries, education is built on the Industrial Revolution model which focuses on IQ - memorization and standardization. This system of learning needs to be updated with job readiness, the ability to compete against smart machines and the creation of long-term economic value. Education access, equity and quality therefore need to be given top priority particularly because worldwide, over 72 million children of primary education age are not in school.

Effective online learning

Studies conducted during the pandemic show that access to the right technology provides for effective online learning. Research shows that students retain 25% to 60% more information when learning online compared with only 8% to 10% in the classroom. This is because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts they choose.

This online learning however varies amongst different age-groups. Young children, for example, require a structured environment because they are more easily distracted. In fact, studies by technological conglomerates show that children need to be provided with a structure that goes beyond replicating a physical classroom through the internet.  There need to be collaboration tools and engagement methods that promote inclusion, personalisation and intelligence. 

Young children use their senses to learn. Making learning fun through the effective use of technology is the way forward. As an example, the clever integration of games demonstrates higher engagement and an increased willingness to learn. Through this method, young students fall in love with learning.

Traditional and contemporary

The pandemic has disrupted an education system that is mainly focused on traditional educational skills. It has brought home the importance of critical thinking and adaptability. Creating new and more effective methods of education is the only way forward for future successes. We must grasp the opportunities brought about by the pandemic to create new and more effective methods of educating our students.

Traditional offline learning and e-learning can go hand in hand. Teachers can reach out to students efficiently and effectively through document sharing, video conferencing, and chat rooms. It is therefore important that reliable internet access and technology are at hand for our students to participate in digital learning.

Our social duty

My Ministry is fully committed to grasp the opportunities brought about by the pandemic. As a government, we are fully aware of the importance of bridging the digital divide. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds need to be given the opportunity to advance. Therefore, last Monday, as Minister for Education, I launched an initiative that targets disadvantaged students. Students who do not have access to the internet and do not have a means to connect to online lessons are being given free internet and a laptop to tide them over while our schools are closed.

This is the way we prove that we implement what we mean when stating that we are committed to save lives and livelihoods, including the necessary safeguards that ensure the education of our children. It is indeed a great experience to note the close collaboration between families and educators, proving once again that our children are at the heart of our resilience.

Our story

The renowned American businesswoman Carly Fiorina hit the nail on the head when she said that technology must operate in conjunction with business, economic, political, and social system in order for us to progress. The Labour Government is doing its utmost to adapt and to integrate all stake-holders, including families and students as one cohesive team, fully aware that the natural resilience and adaptability of us as a people will come up with the necessary solutions.

A case in point is the resilience of our educators to the current situation. Positive, encouraging and noteworthy results have recently been highlighted in the Global Survey entitled 'Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Life of Higher Education Students'. This quantitative, large-scale online survey captured the immediate economic and social effects of the pandemic. It showed that our University excelled in its shift to online teaching and that students had positive comments regarding the online learning provided.

The online study workload has increased by 58% across Europe however, our University students adapted well. Our university ranked first in students' satisfaction with recorded video and second in the use of video conferencing. Our students stand high amongst students from over 150 universities in 100 countries and six continents included in this study.

Quoting Professor Alfred Vella, Rector of the University of Malta, 'Excellent news for our University - another show of how our teaching staff rose admirably to the occasion and how much the students appreciated it.'

The fulcrum

Bill Gates himself had stated that technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.   

Our educators are the fulcrum of our education system and the secret of our success. Their hard work, innovation, input, and dedication in these trying times is there for all to see.  I cannot help but close my comment with what one of our educators wrote on the social media:

'Going online is no simple feat; we have technologies at hand that are important tools; but no tool is effective without a dedicated and skilled worker. Teaching requires skill, love and dedication. Teaching requires adapting and this in turn requires preparation. I am sure that endless preparation and adaptation by educators to give students the best possible online educational experience will result in big success. Good luck to all my colleagues past and present! Let's do this!'