Economic plan hinges on education excellence

Education headed the list of areas identified by the government in which Malta is to achieve excellence by 2015.

The citizens of Malta were invited to work together to enable everyone, independent of which part of the island they come from, to receive sufficient education to lead socially and economically productive lives.

The emphasis is on an equity - education for all - and on urgency, clearly conveyed by the deadline.

Adopting the goal of 'excellence in education' does not mean that all ignorance and illiteracy will miraculously vanish. What the government meant becomes clearer when we look at the methods being chosen to get everyone on the excellence in education bandwagon.

One main vehicle is the University: a blend of teaching, research and service. This has placed a great onus and responsibility on all academic staff to ensure that the goal is reached. It is the cradle for all teachers and instructors, who are the fulcrum for the achievement of education for all.

Rector Juanito Camilleri wisely identified the two next indispensable steps required to go forward as being the revision of the Education Act and the generation of funds. It is important that these steps be carried out urgently but carefully at the same time to ensure we do not end up with another industrial action. All academic staff and students must contribute positively to ensure a successful outcome.

The following eight essentials for a successful tertiary education must be tackled positively as soon as possible:

• We need to know about all barriers to education, including alcoholism, drug abuse, poverty, and mental problems, and ways to control and prevent the prevalence of such problems;

• The right environment and tools are required for a modern education system. The state of some University lecture rooms are far from satisfactory;

• The same can be said of some science and language laboratories, workshops, music and art rooms. Some equipment is so old that it serves more for its historical value than for a practical one;

• A safe and attractive environment is essential. Laboratories are still not as safety conscious as they should be. Some University premises still have an old fashioned, colonial look.

• To encourage participation by students and academics, more transparency is required. Council and Senate minutes are still kept a secret when they concern everybody at the University;

• There needs to be more care, support and encouragement for people with special needs and those who excel, especially in areas such as the carrying out of dissertations;

• Public education should begin at home, in schools, in factories and only culminate at the University. The University needs to be in the public eye not only when there is industrial action on campus;

• While there is need to provide adequate finance to support staff salaries and student stipends it is equally important to facilitate proper maintenance, research and development. Excessive bureaucracy is expensive.

The public has understood the need for excellence in education to be achieved by 2015 even though the current world economic outlook is not so bright. Excellence in education has not only become official policy, it is now a buzzword used everywhere.

Strategies for improving education are being incorporated into the national economic plan. Indeed, the success of this plan hinges on the education goals being achieved.