Instruction or education?

Picture this hypothetical situation: a classroom whose children have to sit for a highly competitive examination at the end of Year 6. The children are asked what they like best about school. Their experience of school life at least in the two years preceding Year 6 being somewhat limited, their answers would, I'm sure, be focused on the 'core subjects', namely, Maltese, mathematics, English, social studies or religion.

It would take an exceptional child, given the circumstances, to venture an answer that was anywhere close to displaying what education should be about. A valid educational programme should include science, ICT, drama, art, sports and debating societies.

Creativity has to be the hallmark of a broad educational system, where space is provided for future critical thinkers, innovators, scientists and artists.

A holistic education with the widest possible parameters is what is advocated in the national minimum curriculum, which is very much a document with a vision. Not being restricted by this entry examination, we, at St Edward's College are able to offer the children something that is closer in spirit to the NMC.

Rather than rigidity and excessive conformity with each child slavishly following written or aural exercises whose only aim is to get through exams, we are able to aim at relating our subjects to every day life. We advocate a more holistic approach to education.

In the Junior School we teach our children to think for themselves, to use their initiative and to cope with problems. In short, we lay the foundations for children to be able to one day find their place in this complex world as mature and well-adjusted citizens capable of living life to the full.

Education in the wide sense of the word is fundamental to the development of a nation. Do we not want and need to have a nation of innovators and creative thinkers? What many schools are offering is instruction and not education.

Schools should now aim at planning and organising themselves with the interests of the children and their education for life, uppermost in mind. Something which ties in with the NMC would be for schools to try anything, however innovative, if there was a good chance that it would enhance a child's interest in learning and encourage curiosity in wanting to find out more, and, most important, if it developed autonomous ways of learning.

Skills that were appropriate 20 years ago no longer prepare a child for the world beyond school. Changes in society are happening so fast that it is difficult to assess what factual knowledge will be needed for the future.

The educational implications of this are that we should focus on teaching skills that give children control over their learning. In short, teach children how to learn, for in this changing world, they may be learning for the rest of their lives. Our emphasis on giving children a good basis in computer work all the way up to Sixth Form illustrates this point.

Junior School teachers at St Edward's College aim at inspiring the children entrusted in their care. A love of one's subject is enough to put across enthusiasm which is quickly picked up by the class. There is, I believe, much truth in the saying "A mediocre teacher tells, a good teacher shows but a professional teacher inspires".

Professional teachers can tap the skills and hidden potential of children whether in the academic or non-academic field. I'm sure we can all remember a teacher who inspired us during our years at school when we became interested and absorbed in a subject which we may even have initially disliked.

This inspiration encourages the children to feel they are good at something and to try their utmost to succeed. This something is likely to be an academic subject but could also be art, drama, or sports. Whatever it is, a child's confidence and self-esteem are boosted and this is sometimes all that is necessary for success to follow.

Collectively, as professional teachers, it is possible to create a spirit in our schools whereby we remove unnecessary pressures from children and facilitate their learning in all fields so that each child can reach his or her full potential.

Ms Tabone is Head of Junior School, St Edward's College