Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516944
10 OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 MARCH 2024 DESPITE all the policy differences in the election, there was little to distinguish between the two major parties on the subject of increasing school funding. They only differ in the extent: the incumbent admin- istration promised a large spend- ing increase, and the PN promised an even larger one. On paper at least, the govern- ment has long made investing in education and training one of its top priorities. Public expenditure is above the EU average, demon- strating a strong commitment to education and training. Smaller average class sizes and lower student-to-teacher ratios are among the factors that contribute to a high level of investment. While this may allow teachers to focus more on the needs of individu- al students, evidence of the effect on student performance is mixed and suggests that this allocation of resources should be carefully evaluated against other measures. For instance, investing in more high-quality professional develop- ment for teachers could help im- prove student achievements more efficiently and effectively. Average levels of basic skills are low, and a large percentage of pupils fail to achieve minimum proficiency levels. Malta's mean performance in reading, mathe- matics, and science is below the EU average, and the proportion of 15-year-olds underachieving in all three domains is among the high- est in the EU. This necessitates the need to strengthen the quality and inclusiveness of education and skill development. Early school leaving remains an issue and represents a serious challenge to society at large. It's true that Malta now has one of the fastest-declining rates of ear- ly school leavers in the European Union. This positive pace has to be maintained, and to do this, we need to understand the complex reasons why early school leaving remains a formidable challenge for policymakers. In contrast, digital education was set as a policy priority early on to sustain a strong digital economy. Schools and pupils are compara- tively well equipped with ICT tools, and additional support was provid- ed to disadvantaged pupils during the COVID-19 crisis. A compar- atively high proportion of young people possess above-average basic digital skills. Yet, supporting teach- ers is crucial to making investment in ICT beneficial for all. There is a need to ensure that teachers have the appropriate competences so that the use of digital devices does not form a distraction for pupils and have a negative impact on their educational outcomes. All this presents a true paradox in our educational system. More than one recent report provides grim figures about the standard of our education system. We cannot be happy about the number of stu- dents who keep failing in the core subjects, which are mandatory for all students and are taught right through the compulsory years of schooling. Education means training for life. The main aim of education is threefold: the physical, mental, and moral development of human personality. We find a constant fall in the standard of education. There are various reasons behind the problem. Everyone is equal- ly responsible: the government, teachers, parents, and students. The government is indifferent to the problems. Past governments have failed to assess the real causes of educational deterioration. The education administration is slack, possibly corrupt, and rather help- less against the student communi- ty. There are no proper checks on the functioning of the education- al institutions. Accountability is missing at all levels. The parents are equally respon- sible for the falling standard. The home plays the most important role in shaping the thinking and character of children and youth. In fact, a mother's lap is the first school for a child. Most parents are overly indulgent with their children. They are allowed to do as they please. Lack of proper upbringing of children is a main cause of poor discipline. Parents have no strict control over youth. Primary schools are the nurser- ies of our nation. But our prima- ry teachers are the least qualified and least paid. How can they raise a good crop? I have heard com- plaints that teachers do not take classes regularly; they come late and leave the classes before time. The heads are rather helpless be- fore the political appointees. The focus of the education policy debate must shift from how much money is spent to how it is spent. In this sense, poor management in the educational sector must be addressed. The usual complaint is a lack of logistics to help carry out the mandate of the management. Politically-influenced educa- tional policies must be filtered. The country needs educational policies that can help accelerate our development as a country and meet global standards, so Maltese can fit into any job globally. A brewing educational crisis? Mark Said is a veteran lawyer Mark Said Investing in more high-quality professional development for teachers could help improve student achievements more efficiently and effectively The education administration is slack, possibly corrupt, and rather helpless against the student community. There are no proper checks on the functioning of the educational institutions. Accountability is missing at all levels.