Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462347
10 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 MARCH 2022 NEWS Education: more tax breaks for high achievers KARL AZZOPARDI EDUCATION has always been a conten- tious topic, and while parties' manifestos differ in details, the principle remains the same between them – better infrastruc- ture in schools, better conditions for work- ers, and the widening of institutions' role. Labour Party • Primary and secondary students com- ing from families with income of €14,300 or less will be entitled to free basic internet service and a free uniform for free • Primary school students will receive a set of books each year • Introduce learning support educators in childcare centres • Introduce 'top-up' degree for kinder- garten educators to continue in their pro- fessional development • Develop audio-visual material to en- courage online reading and teaching of the Maltese language • Create a centre for literacy and story- telling to develop eloquence in the Maltese language Primary Education • A few days before the scholastic year, introductory sessions will be held for par- ents and children who will be starting their first year in primary and kindergarten. The sessions will help children to familiarise themselves with the school and make new friends, while helping parents understand better what is expected of them • Start a national debate on homework. The Labour government wants to move towards an education system without the need for homework • Reintroduce the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables with more portions. The scheme will be introduced in second- ary schools. Secondary Education • Government will work to reduce the disparity in results between boys and girls, and students who attend different schools. • Initiate discussions to ensure the Na- tional curriculum properly prepares stu- dents for the workplace. The discussion will revolve around the number of sub- jects, their relevance and when and how subjects are chosen by students. • Extracurricular and informal activities like sports, arts and culture will be accred- ited. • Subjects like science, technology, engi- neering, maths and the STEAM multi-dis- ciplinary approach. • Gradually introduce coding as a subject in primary and secondary schools • Develop the Malta Visual and Perform- ing Arts School into an academy which of- fers lessons in performing art, and leads to the accredited qualifications in MQF level 4 and 5 • Civic education and active civil society participation are given more importance Modern schools • New primary school in Mosta, and the extension of the Mellieha primary school. • In the first part of the legislature, work will start on the Ħal Għaxaq school, the Ze- jtun secondary school, and the St George school in Qormi. A sports complex will be built at the Santa Lucija school. • Extensive renovation will continue in Gozitan schools. Renovation work will start at the Rabat sixth form. • Installing of air conditioning in classes and staff rooms in all government schools in Malta and Gozo. An energy audit is also carried out, with the installation of dou- ble-glazed windows and roof insulation in schools. Postsecondary Education • Junior College will start offering cours- es up to MQF level 5 • Modernise lecture rooms, offices and common areas at the Junior College. The college will also have a new library, mul- tipurpose sports hall, chapel, multi-faith room, art studios and theatre recording facilities. A student village which will in- corporate offices for student organisations and the Youth Hub will also be built. • A new open space for the Naxxar High- er Secondary will be created, together with new sport facilities and a new parking area. • New courses will be created for the changing needs of the hospitality industry. Short online courses and the training of superyacht stewards and cabin crew will be introduced. MCAST • A new trade school institute at MCAST • A new investment in sport facilities and a bigger auditorium which will have space to host performing arts. • Collaboration between MCAST, the Malta Film Commission and the creative industry will be strengthened to address the needs for skilled workers in local cine- matic and television productions. Special- isation opportunities through technical arrangements with foreign education in- stitutions will be carried out. • The MCAST library, spread on two floors, will be opened to the general public. Voluntary organisations will be allowed to make use of the space to host educational and social activities. The public will also be allowed to make use of MCAST's sports facilities. • Evening classes will be widened and ac- commodate more adults who wish to enrol. UOM • Discussions are initiated with stake- holders so that the University Act is com- pleted and presented. The law will be tied with the Education Act and complements the MCAST Act. • Existing scholarship and tax credits will be strengthened. A bigger portion of funds will be allocated to students who specialise in their studies. • The UOM will have a modern sports complex which will have the capacity to provide new facilities for the Physical Edu- cation Institute and Performing Arts. The project will include a football pitch, indoor and outdoor tracks for athletes, squash courts, theatres and art studios. The pro- ject will also incorporate a 1,000-car un- derground parking. • Specific funds for researchers who carry out transdisciplinary work in their projects which are of socio-economic and environmental importance to the country. Educator conditions • The upcoming sectoral and collective agreement will receive significant upgrad- ing in educator wages during the legisla- ture • Kindergarten assistants and early-years educators in childcare centres will see improvement in wages and working con- ditions in the upcoming collective agree- ment • Dialogue with educators from different sectors will be strengthened • The centre for independent research will be launched • Good practices that were started dur- ing the COVID-19 pandemic, like online Parents' Day will be retained • Reduction of bureaucracy and admin- istrative work for teachers, so they concen- trate on teaching • Supply teachers will see an improve- ment in salary Better help for students • Parents of young people who contin- ue to study after the obligatory age will be given direct help through a tax credit, or €500 a year for three years. Students who live alone will be given the direct sum. • Stipends will increase by 15% in the coming legislature • Students will start benefitting from the cost-of-living compensation through the new mechanism which is separate from the COLA. • Students who benefit from supplemen- tary aid, will also receive a 15% increase. The eligibility for the scheme will also be widened so that more students who come from low-income families will benefit. • A special fund will be created so that students in post-secondary and tertiary in- stitutions who are passing through a diffi- cult time are given the necessary help. • The number of hours a full-time stu-