It's time for a new beginning in education

I enjoyed reading Kenneth Wain's opinion (February 25) where, among other issues, he commented on the Malta Labour Party's proposal to introduce the educational concept of a reception class in our system. This, as we always stated, has to be discussed with all stakeholders before implementation by a new Labour government.

What we are basically saying in our electoral manifesto is the following: As part of a reform process on a number of years, based on success stories in a number of European Union member states, with the introduction of a reception class between kindergarten and primary school we will ensure a solid ground for our children to learn. This is our proposal. No age is mentioned. I can also add that we have no intention to raise the school-leaving age and, as such, this will remain at 16 years of age.

Prof. Wain suggests how reception or induction into the school culture should occur. In my opinion, this could be another option of how to implement the educational concept of a reception class as envisaged by the MLP. I repeat that this is going to be part of a debate we need to have on this proposal with all those interested, that is parents, teachers and unions.

He continues by saying that "we need a curriculum that ensures continuity and smooth transitions for all our children through all the stages of schooling". And this is precisely what we, at the MLP, want to achieve after the long hours of discussions that we had with teachers and educational experts that highlighted this to us and urged us to do something concrete since the present Administration was busy giving out contracts while ignoring the educational concepts and what happens in the classroom.

Of course, we are aware that introducing a reception class by itself will not solve the prevailing problems at primary level. And that is why in our plan for education there are a number of proposals that should be part and parcel of this packet aimed at bringing about a new beginning in our early and primary level education.

Evidently, Prof. Wain has not read the MLP education document. In an electoral manifesto one cannot expect a detailed plan of a reform. The MLP education document at least presents a framework of the radical changes needed to rationalise the education system in Malta and, among others, tackles the problem created by summative assessment, the need of quality training of educators with emphasis on kindergarten assistants.

Prof. Wain is known to be against the 11+, or shall I say the 10+, exam. As one that follows the education sector very closely, he would have surely noticed that the present Administration of more than 20 years did nothing about the subject except for the fact that the caretaker minister has in his possession a document he commissioned on the subject and which is proposing to abolish the 10+ or 11+ exam together with the common entrance examination. In spite of the fact that this report has been on the minister's desk for months now, it has not yet seen the light of day.

Gonzipn has been saying repeatedly that Kinder 1 and 2 in Malta is the same as nursery and reception in the UK. However, Prof. Wain says that "The comparison would be relevant if our system compared with theirs, which it doesn't because the idea of early selection is repellent to them. The Scandinavian countries do not work with a brutal and highly-selective system like ours". Therefore, according to Prof. Wain, gonzipn cannot compare with their system since this is different.

Prof. Kenneth Wain now lauds "the good work done by a reception class". He continues by saying that these beneficial effects will be wiped out by the selective system. He mentions "the pressures, the heartbreak, and the loss of self-esteem suffered by a sizable percentage of the age cohort". Thank God that at last we have at least one educator from the other side of the fence (since now the issue has been turned political by the one-man band gonzipn) who is echoing identical numerous references by Labour leader Alfred Sant and the undersigned as the education spokesman for the same party.

"Nagħtu t-tfulija lura lit-tfal" - to mention just one phrase we want to restore childhood to our children. But perhaps Prof. Wain is too busy, and I can understand that, to follow Dr Sant's or my speeches. But truth will always prevail. Moreover, the whole article is one big proof of the dismal government track record of the Nationalists after 20 years of bad governance and crass incompetence especially in the implementation of the national minimum curriculum. And this is one of the reasons why Prof. Wain resigned as chairman of the Foundation for Education Services.

In fact, one can quote Prof. Wain practically line after line:

• our schools are not schools but examination machines, sausage factories;

• a brutal and highly-selective system like ours;

• the rat race of selectivity that starts even before streaming;

• the culture of failure the 11+ brings with it;

• the tensions, the pressures, the heartbreak, the loss of self-esteem suffered by a sizable percentage of the age cohort;

• this madness.

On the other hand, the Labour plan on education exposes many of these shortfalls in our system and puts forward numerous proposals which indicate that the MLP possesses the political and educational will and skills to address the above deficiencies in our system in the months and years to come.

So, please, Prof. Wain, your statement that "The MLP is not proposing any measures to change this culture, just adding on another class, so I cannot subscribe to its proposal at all" is, with all due respect, very naïve indeed.

In fact, he implies that he is against the reception class because it is an isolated proposal cut off from a holistic plan to overhaul the whole system. In this case, we appeal again to Prof. Wain to read the MLP education document, approved by the party's general conference in July 2006. Of course, we are sure that he is referring to the MLP electoral manifesto as echoed by the one-man band referred to above. As mentioned above, the MLP electoral manifesto simply highlights all the documents approved by the MLP months before.

However, it is nice to see Prof. Wain, less than a fortnight away from a change in government, move from his reactive position towards change in education to a more convenient position in the centre. I consider him to be a valid person and he is more than welcome to give a helping hand to a new Labour government to bring the much-needed change to make sure we achieve quality education for all.

Mr Abela will be contesting the March 8 election on behalf of the Malta Labour Party.