The ‘Transformation Centre’, which the Ministry for Education describes as “a dynamic space that encourages creativity and innovation which allows educators, students, and stakeholders to be an active part of the feedback mechanism and application for current and future educational policies”, has been launched.

The ministry stated that the transformation centre is intended to put an emphasis on the individual at the centre of the education sector. It added that the centre is an integral part of the Malta Education Foresight Forum (MEFF) and forms one of the forum’s three main components.

This approach, the ministry said, is based on a strategic vision for the future which ensures that Malta’s education system remains open to the future and responsive to new challenges while also being inclusive in its push for curriculum improvement and educational growth.

Education Minister Clifton Grima said that through the transformation centre, the government is continuing to put the individual at the centre. He commented that this was promised in the electoral manifesto and is being delivered. “In the manifesto, we promised that educators should have a greater role as policy-makers and that they need to be better integrated into research and decision-making. We also promised that we want to strengthen dialogue with educators from different fields to discuss any changes intended to improve the current system, working conditions and the future of their profession,” he said.

The ministry continued that the transformation centre gives educators and other stakeholders a voice through a dynamic and controlled environment in which students, educators, youth, policymakers, and other stakeholders can explore new educational concepts and technologies. It added that the aim of the centre is to empower educators to shape the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational policies.

Permanent Secretary Matthew Vella said that this is an initiative closely linked to ‘Educators as Policy Makers’, which he described as forming an integral part of the National Education Strategy. He continued that the transformation centre is intended to be a vibrant and dynamic space for collaborative exploration and innovation, and that this inauguration marks a crucial moment in shaping the future of education in Malta.