Is our education in decline?

Malta has had compulsory education for 60 years and in the 1970s the school leaving age was raised from 14 years to 16. Notwithstanding all this, the level of illiteracy is one of the highest, if not the highest, in the EU.

I must assume that somebody has analysed this situation and come up with recommendations to remedy it as this problem has been with us for a very long time now. I would say that the standard of education in our schools has been on a downward trend for over 30 years: the result of the decision to banish all foreign teachers from the island. So there no longer are French teachers to teach French, English teachers to teach English, Italian teachers to teach Italian, and discipline has become practically non-existent, even in private schools.

The fact that thousands of school leavers simply are unable to read or write - this in a language which they hear every day and to which far too much time is devoted at school at the expense of other subjects - indicates that parents and teachers have failed miserably to motivate these students.

Had passes in Maltese at Matriculation level been good, at least one could somehow justify the substantial time devoted to it: but as far as I know the pass rate is as low as 20 per cent. Passes in other important subjects like English, Maths and Physics are, I believe, around 10 per cent.

If my figures are right, then indeed we have a disaster. Gone are the days when all parents supported the teachers and complemented the teachers' work at home. Instead teachers now have to struggle with students and their parents to try to instil some good sense and motivation in the students' heads.

My understanding is that foreign students outshine the locals in practically all subjects, Maltese included, possibly because they are more disciplined and more mature than our kids. The time devoted to sport is ridiculous; no wonder we have the highest rate of obesity among children in the world.

The free time left to our children after school hours is terribly restricted: they get loads and loads of homework even in the junior classes, they have to go for private tuition as otherwise the parents are sure their children will never pass the Matric exams.

The children and their parents are frustrated. Their only relief seems to be the Saturday evenings in Paceville. Many teenagers indulge in smoking, alcohol and sex to relieve their stress.

If in our state schools we don't have enough locals able or willing to teach subjects like Art, Physical Education, English, we should import foreign teachers to do it: after all some private schools do it and all football coaches are foreign.

When it comes to sports we all know that the Maltese are a lazy bunch; they don't do enough exercise and they overeat, especially junk food. Little wonder we have one of the highest rate of diabetes in the world and the junior type 1 diabetes is on the rise.

Wrong diet, overeating and lack of exercise is definitely to blame for the high rate of obesity in our populaton - the sum total of poor education; apart from genes.

Again poor education is reflected in the atrocious driving we witness on our roads; road rage and the road hogging abound: and in the lack of courtesy shown by most taxi and bus drivers. I am sure that if they are made to take a written test in English and Maltese before they can get their licence, the unsavoury ones will be weeded out. Nowhere - except for New York, maybe - have I met taxi drivers who are so rude and aggressive as some of the Maltese white taxi drivers.

I think it's about time that Government and Opposition pluck some courage and act together to do something to reverse this downward trend in education. The education and health of our population are extremely important and should be placed above politics. Health services are excellent but I'm afraid that the education establishments are a disaster and that successive administrations over the past 35 years have failed miserably in this sphere.