The Malta Independent 13 February 2025, Thursday
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PN against proposal to extend schooling hours

Friday, 17 January 2025, 12:17 Last update: about 26 days ago

The Nationalist Party said that it is categorically against the proposal to extend schooling hours.

The PN argued that formal education taught at school can only be strengthened if it is adequately supported by informal education, i.e., what is taught to children at home. 

"This balance must be sought not by one being prioritized over another. Neither one should win over the other," spokesman Justin Schembri said.

He also added that it would be "fruitless" to extending school hours if the supplied education remains the same. In this light, the educator by profession remarked that "quality education should take precedence over quantity education."

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The Nationalist Party held that the school experience should focus on enriching children's own experiences, and that "it is important for children's wellbeing to be central to policies in place." On this point, Schembri observed that this PN position aligns with one of the main values enshrined in the government's National Education Strategy.

The Opposition described that according to several empirical studies, a child's development and education are not solely attributed to the contents and time spent learning at school, since their families also play a vital role. PN's Shadow Minister for Education commented that the role of families in this regard is not given enough importance nowadays.

Henceforth, Schembri argued that "we shouldn't have a society where families depend on educators" to fulfil these needs and that rather, it is necessary for families to collaborate with their children's schools so they can support each other and fulfil the same function together.

"School, undoubtedly, can never replace home or extracurricular activities as these offer essential learning that aid in children's cognitive development," he said.

The PN MP iterated that a society which views schools and education as simply a means for the economy to keep itself going, "is a cold society - a society that only values the economy, and not quality of life." He also sustained that according to his party, quality of life must always be given important attention.

While reiterating the PN's disagreement with the proposal to lengthen schooling hours, the party's representatives stated that "school hours are long enough for those who need them."

The Nationalist Party believes that instead of prolonging children's duration at school, the government should work to strengthen supportive services that affect school children, such as the Breakfast Club initiative and Klabb 3-16.

MP Albert Buttigieg said that children require equal support from both their families and their schools.

"As a society, it is in our interest to strengthen schools and families alike; we must work in favour of policies that support families, where children are integral parts of family life," he said.

While stating that families should remain as central pillars of society, Buttigieg questioned whether families should be the ones to work around working hours or if work/the economy should be adjusted to the needs of families.

PN's family spokesperson stated that more work needs to be done to assist people in having a healthier work-life balance. He suggested increasing the amount of flexitime and granting more leave to parents and children's guardians.

This proposal was put forward into public light earlier this week following the publication of a study conducted by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NPCE). Since then, the proposal gained traction after former Labour Party Minister Edward Zammit Lewis publicized his agreement with the idea to extend school hours.

Following this, the present Minister for Education, Clifton Grima, told the Times of Malta that "The education system should revolve around children's well-being. If we prioritise other things we would be making a mistake."


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