Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 Opinion 23 attests to its illegality. Even from a local ecological perspective, the practice can be seen to have impacted Malta's current bio-diversity. The number of resident breeding birds in Malta has dwindled drastically in the last 50 years. Earlier ornithologists (Wright, Despott, et al) record infinitely greater numbers of both breeding and migratory birds in former decades and centuries. Even within living memory, birds such as barn owls and kestrels used to breed (and still sporadically try) in Malta. There have even been recorded attempts of turtle dove trying to breed. Yet there is no resident population of turtle dove in Malta today. Why is that, I wonder? They didn't like the weather, perhaps? They were put off by the confrontational nature of Maltese politics? Or could it be that no bird can realistically expect to start up a breeding population, in a country where birds are systematically shot precisely as they are trying to nest? Amazingly, though, this is another of the fallacious arguments in defence of spring hunting in Malta... an argument used by the Maltese government (unsuccessfully) in the European Court of Justice case in 2008. Malta should be permitted to derogate from the Birds directive, because the autumn season is not a 'satisfactory solution' to spring. In other words, we need to shoot more birds… because there are not enough birds to shoot. Hmmm. Yes, wonderful logic there. So if the population of, say, lampuki were to dwindle to a point where the autumn fishing season would be insufficient… the obvious solution would be to catch them just as they are about to replenish the population during the breeding season. Yes, that would guarantee a recovery of lampuki stocks during autumn, wouldn't it? Make sure there are fewer specimens to breed this year, so that – obviously – there will be more specimens to fish for the next. Is it possible that no one can see the flaw in that argument? Has it really never occurred to anyone that the autumn season is so paltry precisely because we permit those birds to be killed at the most critical stage of their life-cycle? And that's not the only logical fallacy to shoot in that argument. If autumn is not good enough a season for turtle dove or quail, it only means that Malta, as a migratory destination, is not a good place to target those two species. Yet there are around 10,000 hunters licensed to shoot what they themselves acknowledge is an 'insufficient' species. How is that in any way sustainable? The truth is that spring hunting is NOT sustainable, and the hunters' own argument is the main proof. It prevents birds like turtle dove from successfully breeding locally – and not for want of trying, either. If these birds were given half a chance to actually breed, the prospects for autumn might be very different. A resident breeding population would guarantee regular numbers which – not necessarily the case for birds breeding in other countries – will definitely return to Malta in autumn. This in turn implies that it is in the hunters' own interest to ban hunting in spring. Or at least, it would be, if conservation of wildlife featured anywhere in their concerns. But it doesn't. The only thing that is of any concern to them is that 'primal instinct' I mentioned earlier. And against such a hopelessly irrational, emotive force… even the gods are powerless. D uring a certificate awarding ceremony, I was pleased to hear an early school leaver express his gratitude for "the love and respect" shown by EFL teachers who were contributing to the Youth.Inc programme. The Youth. Inc programme is open to young people aged between 16 and 18 and is based on the principle that in education everyone deserves a second chance It was their commitment which made "all the difference" the student said. It is this relationship of mutual respect that has been created between the young person and the teacher which ensures the success of programmes such as these. During the past months three English as a Foreign Language (EFL) schools participated in a programme developed by the EFL Monitoring Board, the language teaching industry regulator. The scheme would not have been a success without the active cooperation of a number of schools and it is the industry's duty to contribute to maintaining educational standards in the country. The schools' commitment to this programme underlines the role of schools as active stakeholders in the wider education system, thus endowing them with a sense of ownership. It shows that EFL schools are not just profit making entities catering for individual clients but active actors in the educational system. More similar community- based educational initiatives are planned in the future. Malta can already boast of one of the strongest regulatory frameworks for the language schools which have earned a global reputation for excellence. But this sectoral excellence goes hand in hand with social responsibility. Malta's competitive advantage lies in its bilingualism and it is clear that the local community has an important role in the educational experience of foreign students. The fact that these students can speak in English in their daily interactions with Maltese people while staying here is a great asset. Students do not learn English only during lessons. If standards in English fall, the whole industry will suffer. A major challenge facing the EFL industry is that of improving educational standards, especially English language standards in the wider community. It is only in this way that Malta can compete in this highly competitive sector. Through their involvement in community initiatives schools are showing that they are willing to look beyond their immediate comfort zone. Media literacy Just over a week ago, the Secretariat for Catholic Education organised a seminar on Media Literacy Education (MLE). In Church schools this subject was introduced way back in 1981 and in these last few years its relevance and importance both to students and their parents have increased significantly, in view of the fact that we live in a digital, connected and media saturated world. Rev. Dr Charles Tabone, the Archbishop's Delegate for Media and Social Communications, stressed the importance of MLE in today's digital culture. During this seminar the head of department for Media Literacy Education and PSCD (Personal, Social and Career Development) in Church schools, Edward Wright, explained several initiatives that will be taken to strengthen MLE as a subject in its own right and also as a cross-curricular theme. He explained how teachers will be provided with several opportunities for professional training and development. He also launched a new syllabus for students in Forms 1 and 2, which focuses upon equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes with which they can analyse, evaluate and produce media texts and messages. These knowledge, attitudes and skills relate to four key aspects of the media, namely media audiences, media organisations/industries and production, representation and languages. He also presented a short MLE course for parents that includes knowledge and skills that are necessary for 'Digital Parenting' in the 21st century. Dr Ġorġ Mallia, a university lecturer in the Faculty of the Media and Knowledge Sciences spoke about the impact that the various media, both the traditional and the newest forms, have on children and adolescence. He said that we must understand how our students interact with the media and how, in turn, the media shape and mould our students' ways of thinking and acting. The director for Catholic Church schools, Dr Roseanne Cuschieri, said that such a project was growing and becoming successful because school administrators, teachers and parents were realising the crucial importance of possessing media literacy skills in our digital culture. I cannot stress further the importance of MLE as an effective means to promote a better lifestyle. The Secretariat of Catholic Education and Curia Communications is working on a new syllabus for Media Studies at Levels 1, 2 and 3. The Media Centre delivered a presentation and this will be useful to teachers in the teaching of MLE. It will also be most helpful for the construction of the new syllabi of MLE and Media Studies as a vocational subject which could then be offered to students in both State, Church and Private schools. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment Walking the talk Malta's competitive advantage lies in its bilingualism and it is clear that the local community has an important role in the educational experience of foreign students Evarist Bartolo