Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/534048
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2015 Opinion 25 express wishes of 'GoL almighty' itself… retribution must be merciless and swift, etc. Ok, thus far my prophecy seems to have materialised almost in every detail. Almost. It is admittedly a little too early to say whether Vella's political career will have been 'destroyed' (as I also predicted) as a result of his outspokenness… we'll have to wait for an election to see. But the pattern of events has nonetheless unfolded exactly in the same vein as every other time when 'abortion' became an issue in Malta. As it does, every so often… not because there is any actual demand for a discussion at street-level; but simply because of the repeated, alarmist and quite frankly unhinged attempts by Gift of Life to have us all believe that there is some kind of Satanic conspiracy afoot, aimed at somehow forcing this country to legislate in favour of abortion against its will. This has been going on uninterruptedly in the background since roughly 2005, when GoL orchestrated a mass effort, spearheaded by the former Justice Minister, Tonio Borg, to amend the Constitution so that no future generation – regardless of what cultural, social or even medical changes may take place in the meantime – would ever be able to change Malta's current abortion law in any detail (or at least, not without mustering a two-thirds majority in parliament… which in practical terms means never). Anyway: GoL failed in this immediate endeavour, for much the same reason as it would later fail to prevent a national majority from voting in favour of divorce in 2011. Like the government it influenced so much at the time, it was entirely oblivious to the direction in which the rest of the country was visibly moving. And judging by its hysterical reaction today to a young politician who is merely echoing widespread European thought… it evidently still is. But in one area, I must say GoL was extremely successful. They have managed to create an aura of fear around this topic, aimed specifically at discouraging people like Jamie Vella from deviating in any way from the approved script. And they have publicly boasted about this, too. GoL's chairman, Paul Vincenti, has repeatedly 'warned' politicians about the 'consequences' of failing to share his NGO's views in the matter: examples include former MEP John Attard Montalto, rattled for voting in favour of an EP resolution to permit abortion in cases of genocidal mass-rape; and MEP hopeful Sharon Ellul Bonici, for expressing reservations about Malta's blanket abortion ban. Jamie Vella himself describes this tactic on Facebook: "How silly, not only are they against giving women the right of choice over their own bodies (a safeguarded right in most modern democratic countries), but it seems they are also against the liberty of an open debate on the matter, by attempting to shame anyone not in line with their ridiculous propaganda." Spot on, I'd say. It is precisely the strategy Gift of Life has (in its own words) 'aggressively' pursued, ever since being foisted onto the political stage in 2005. But will it continue to work? Ah, now there's the thing I didn't quite predict at all. And for the moment, the answer looks a very likely 'No'. Leaving aside all the reactions to Vella's 'bolt from the blue': I have no idea whether this random event was in any way planned by the Nationalist Party, or whether Jamie Vella really did just suddenly pipe up out of nowhere. Either way, in many respects it puts paid to the old strategy used endlessly by the PN (most recently against Alfred Sant, who voted in favour of the Paraguayan resolution) of tarnishing their political adversaries with the 'pro- choice' label at every opportunity. Judging by the zeal with which it wielded this political battle-axe in the past – most often against Alternattiva Demokratika, in spite of countless declarations that it was statutorily against abortion – anyone would think the PN in government was the sole guarantor that abortion would never, ever even be discussed in this country… let alone introduced. But how can it continue to plug that line, when, to date, the only calls for a discussion on abortion in this country have actually come from within its own structures? Considering that Jamie Vella is a member of the youth section – and only 18 to boot – it is now far likelier that a future PN government might be the one to actually change the country's course in this particular area. There is at least one Nationalist member proposing a different direction for the future… there are none in any other party. As for that other strategy, of constantly 'naming and shaming' Labour MEPs for voting in favour of resolutions which include (among thousands of other things) references to 'female reproductive rights' in other countries…. well, that too gets flushed down the toilet along with the placenta, now that the PN itself has given birth to a possible future in which abortion in Malta may no longer be… ahem…inconceivable. Was this deliberate? All part of a master plan to break away from former shackles, and finally jettison all the fundamentalist baggage the party had acquired over the years? Perhaps. I'd like to think so myself: it would be perfectly consistent with the stand the party has taken with Jamie Vella himself, who crossed one of the PN's self-avowed 'red lines', and was not even mildly admonished as a result. But whatever the motive behind this curious turn of events, one thing is certain. The old 'abortion trump card' has now been well and truly terminated… and that's a heck of a lot to have to thank an 18-year-old party official for, you know… T he National Curriculum Framework document (2012) had envisaged the introduction of Ethics as a separate subject for students whose parents do not wish them to be educated in the Roman Catholic faith at school. The Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE) committed itself to develop such a programme. In January 2014, a national seminar on the introduction of Ethics in schools was organised. A number of stakeholders participated in this seminar, including Rev. Dr René Camilleri, the Archbishop's Delegate for Catechesis and Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, and the Imam Mohammed El Sadi. All those present reflected upon the introduction of Ethics in schools, and the potential difficulties and implications that the introduction of a new subject may pose for the education system. During this scholastic year 2014-2015, Ethics was taught as a pilot project in four state schools (primary and secondary) at St Clare and Maria Regina Colleges. Students who are exempted from Religious Education are required to participate in the Ethics class. During the same time, a number of teachers were given the opportunity to read for a one year Post- Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Ethics in Schools, at the University of Malta. More than 50 teachers completed this course and are now qualified to teach Ethics at school. During this scholastic year, the programme is being implemented only in Primary Years 1 and 2, and Secondary Forms 1 and 2. Ethics is being timetabled in both primary and secondary schools to run in parallel to Religious Education. It is envisaged that during the next scholastic year the programme will continue to be offered in Years 3 and Form 3 in the same four pilot schools. A number of independent schools are also planning to introduce Ethics in the next scholastic year. Ongoing evaluation of the programme is being conducted by teachers to ensure that the curricular aims of the programme are reached. As from 2016-17, the programme will expand to those state schools where there is a demand for it, at feasible entry points, so that eventually it will be offered at all stages of compulsory education. Initial discussions with the Matsec Board have also been conducted to ensure that a SEC Ethics programme and assessment will be available and students can obtain an MQF Level 3 certification in this subject at the end of Form 5. The learning outcomes for the Ethics programme are now available for public consultation as part of a project to develop learning outcomes for all subjects within compulsory education. The Ethics programme is accessible at http://www.schoolslearningoutcomes. edu.mt/en/subjects/ethics and both educators and the public are encouraged to view and give online feedback. All the feedback received will be analysed by the local curriculum experts for this subject, and taken into consideration so as to enhance this programme. The Learning and Assessment Programme for Ethics is spread upon three modules for each scholastic year. The Ethics programme is based on the promotion of moral values, development of attitudes and the sharing of experiences which are a common heritage to humanity. It educates learners to understand the nature of moral language, make sound and reflective moral judgments and live a lifestyle that corresponds with and reflects one's moral values without focusing on a particular moral doctrine. Its pedagogy emphasises group work, debates, presentations, critical thinking and creativity. The assessment of this subject is based on a blend of ongoing and summative assessment, including activities, projects and reflexive writing throughout the whole learning programme. Special thanks must be attributed to Prof. Kenneth Wain and his team within the Faculty of Education, in collaboration with the DQSE, for all the work done to develop the Learning Outcomes and the Learning and Assessment Programme for Ethics. so', but… The State has a responsibility to introduce Ethics in schools The Ethics programme is based on the promotion of moral values, development of attitudes and the sharing of experiences which are a common heritage to humanity Evarist Bartolo