Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/497863
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 APRIL 2015 Opinion 17 Humanitarian rhetoric and cuckoo-killing T he Mediterranean has long been the world's deadliest migration route. It is estimated that over 3,200 migrants died in 2014, and the death toll so far in 2015 is 470 and counting. Over 220,000 migrants reached the EU by sea in 2014. Migration and asylum are high on the EU's agenda. We've lost count of the EU summits, conferences, parliamentary sittings and the usual rhetoric from MEPs on this subject. Despite all this, the above figures show that the EU has failed miserably in front of this humanitarian crisis and apart from humanitarian rhetoric has no clear- cut solutions nor the resources, neither the effort to save lives at sea. Its actions towards people in distress does not match the human rights ideals it espouses. The EU has, repeatedly, failed people in distress. Due to its failed polices and lack of effective measures to save lives at sea, the EU is letting hundreds of men, women and children die slowly, on the open sea. *** As hundreds of men, women and children die a few kilometres away from our shores, we are far too busy discussing the Manikata cuckoo killer, paraded on the media and fined by our courts for having shot and killed a protected bird on the second day of the spring hunting season to notice, and care. Shame on us. *** It was bound to happen. With the MaltaToday surveys showing a significant lead for the NO vote, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat could not afford to face the wrath of the hunters, having promised them a free for all in the run up to the last general election. Muscat was determined not to allow the abolition of spring hunting on his watch and the obvious reaction to the surveys was to remind his loyal supporters that he supports a YES vote. Muscat is hugely popular with Labour supporters, who went out in droves to support the YES vote on April 11. With their modest campaign, the NO lobby stood no chance against Muscat's well-oiled electoral machine, although they did manage to convince 49% of the electorate to say no to spring hunting – which is no mean feat, and they should be commended for it. As an aside, I find the bashing, on social media, of those who voted in favour of spring hunting, hugely distasteful. *** The high turnout registered in Labour's strongholds in the south of Malta on April 11, points towards another remarkable victory for Labour at the polls. The YES vote was strongest in the fifth, seventh and thirteenth (Gozo) electoral districts – which should translate in significant wins for Labour in these districts, apart from the obvious ones – second, third and sixth electoral districts, Malta's 'red-belt'. *** Should the Nationalist Party fail to narrow the gap at the local council elections, or worse should the gap widen, it's back to the drawing board for the PN. A soul searching exercise would be the next step, followed by a change in style, approach and a re-think of policies. *** Should the PN manage to narrow, even if slightly, the gap with the Labour Party, that would be a significant achievement for Simon Busuttil and his party. It would demonstrate that the PN has started to make inroads and that the changes that took place within the party's structure and the efforts by Busuttil and his team to rebuild the PN is striking a chord with disenchanted Nationalists and middle of the road voters. It would, of course, be a wake- up call for Joseph Muscat's Labour and, hopefully, help put a stop to the invincible approach demonstrated by Labour for the past two years. Of course, it would still be an uphill for the PN. Frank Psaila, a lawyer by profession, anchors Iswed fuq l-Abjad on Net TV A friend of mine recently gave me a copy of a report entitled 'The alternative should not be inferior'. This report is the outcome of a roundtable debate organised by the 'Inclusion Trust', which included a number of international attendees, all of whom are striving to develop learning opportunities for those who are being defined as 'pushed out' learners. The term 'pushed out' learners was adopted by the Trust to provoke a debate that focuses on the weaknesses of our educational system rather than the 'abnormality' of the individual child. In Malta only about 25 per cent of fifth formers in state schools are getting enough SEC passes to proceed to a MATSEC course in sixth form, or Junior College, or to Level four at MCAST or ITS. We cannot afford that around 75 per cent of our students are being 'pushed out' of the system without any certification, qualifications or skills. Can mainstream schools really deliver on high expectations for all young people, including those who are at risk of unintentionally and intentionally becoming 'pushed out' learners? Practices already exist which can harness and nurture the skills and talents of 'pushed out' students. We need to collaborate more closely in the world of mainstream schools and alternative education and by doing so we can go a long way towards giving more 'pushed out' students a chance to succeed. We must live up to the promise of inclusivity. Young people are being pushed out because of a one-size-fits- all and standard educational programmes. We need to bring back these 'pushed out' learners back into the mainstream structure. Schools in their current form do not provide this for everyone. These young people are characterised by their struggles in adjusting to mainstream schooling; their vulnerability due to personal or family circumstances and the gaps they have in their basic needs and skills. Some pupils face specific barriers, such as poor literacy or a lack of social skills. These could be addressed and supported to bring back these students back to mainstream education. For some young people who are unwilling, unable or unsuited to the norm, provision outside of the mainstream may result in the best outcome. Ultimately it is only by engaging with the pupils' needs that the right approach can be found. The best way to support these 'pushed out' learners is by engaging with the pupils' needs to ensure that the right approach can be found. Unfortunately too often it takes the drastic step of exclusion to secure the resources and support that a 'pushed out' learner needs. Pupils who find it difficult to adjust to the school environment should be carefully supported through nurture groups, ideally with lower pupil-teacher ratios. These groups should combine a focus on basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as social, emotional and behaviour development. We should work outside of the mainstream structure and develop strong relationships with alternative providers. There is no one easy solution. There are different views on whether these young people need more support to adjust to school or whether the school should adjust to their needs. To this big question however, there is a definite commitment – that we want to change to provide diverse pathways leading to a society which will make good citizens and enhance the job market. Children learn differently and should be taught differently. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo The 'pushed out' learners Frank Psaila Young people are being pushed out because of a one-size-fits-all and standard educational programmes. We need to bring back these 'pushed out' learners back into the mainstream structure With their modest campaign, the NO lobby stood no chance against Muscat's well- oiled electoral machine, although they did manage to convince 49% of the electorate to say no to spring hunting – which is no mean feat