Increase in learning support assistants

The state's complement of learning support assistants has been increased to 1,314 over the past year to cater to the special needs of 1,947 students, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.

Dr Gonzi, who was speaking during a visit to the St Ignatius College Handaq Boys' Secondary School, said state schools were presently being equipped to deal with students of mixed abilities as part of the removal of selectivity envisaged in the education reform for the transition from primary to secondary education.

Students were being grouped to their educational level in mathematics, English and Maltese. They were divided randomly in other subjects. As opposed to streaming, students were given special attention in particular subjects of specific importance.

The Prime Minister described as a “breakthrough” the provision of laptops during examinations to two students with severe dyslexia.

“Let us provide our students with opportunities to show us what they know rather than keeping them back because of that which they don’t know,” he said.