Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1065920
OPINION 26 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 DECEMBER 2018 THE days leading to Christmas are the most special time of the year, as we celebrate with our family, friends and colleagues. With the news and social me- dia, attention is almost always given to the negative aspects in our society, and not enough focus is given to the so much good that takes place around us. Christmas might be a time of giving, and many do so, but there's a lot of goodwill going around in the rest of the year. In Malta and Gozo we have some amazing people doing incredible work and a lot of sacrifices. They do it out of simple goodwill and respect to the well-being of others. In education, my role allows me to meet a lot of educators and visit schools throughout the year. What remains im- printed in my mind every time I visit schools, wherever they may be, is the dedication, love and commitment of educators towards the children. We have a lot to be proud of. We have educators who help parents after school hours, so that they can be in position to help their sons and daughters at home. They teach these parents literacy and numeracy during their free time, often because the parents had lacked opportunity when they were younger. A couple of months ago a teenager was missing and the individual which helped the authorities in the rescue was none other than his LSE. It was a wet wintery night and there were difficulties in locating him, but she stayed for hours in the search. They eventually found him and he was safe, but the Police would not have been able to successfully find the young man if it wasn't for the LSE. We have educators, in their hundreds, who help children in their little free time and during breaks. Some to help in their work, others to help them grow their interest in an area which is not covered by the curricu- lum. A few weeks ago I visited a St Ignatius College school in Handaq about a new pro- gramme in Gilding. It's now an accredited subject. Where did it start? In the form of a club where students congregated to learn about it all. In their little free time during the day. There's also the amazing work done by educators at Mater Dei Hospital, where in very difficult circumstances they have to balance educa- tion with the harsh realities of the children who are patients there. They have managed to turn hospital wards into places where children can learn and grow. A place where, despite everything and despite the health issues being faced, one can still find hope. And these kinds of amazing people are not just in educa- tion. In healthcare it's pretty much the same story. Incred- ible work by people in health centres and our hospitals helping people live a better life. These are people who work difficult and long hours in very demanding environments. How can we, as a society, not also be thankful to them? Through social media we sometimes see the bad side of our country. But there's a lot of good in it too. Of course, we still have things we can all improve and our work is ongoing and we can never be complacent as there is always lots to be done. But the truth is we are surrounded by good people. They don't look for the spotlight and yet, they still do the positive deeds day in day out. As a country, we should be grateful. As a country, we should be grateful Evarist Bartolo This one's for you Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education and Employment