Maltese institutions featured in EU glossary

Maltese institutions offering pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary education, including special schools, are featured in the new edition of the European Glossary Of Education (Educational Institutions), published earlier this month by Eurydice, the EU's information network on education in Europe.

The European Glossary Of Education is a reference resource on terminology, which is constantly changing. Thus the glossary is intended to facilitate understanding of the concepts used in European education systems, ranging from pre-primary to tertiary education, including institutions specialising in the education of persons with special needs or which offer adult education programmes leading to recognised qualifications. Information on the terms used was supplied by National Units in the Eurydice Network.

The second edition of the glossary lists 670 terms - up from the 500 terms described in the first edition published in 2000 - in alphabetical order of educational institutions in 30 countries in the Eurydice network (29 countries were included in the first edition). For each term, listed in its original language, there is specified the country in which it is used, the educational level to which it relates and an explanatory note which describes the main features, such as admission requirements, length of the course and the certificates awarded upon completion.

For example, the glossary explains that Maltese area secondary schools offer five years of full-time lower secondary education to pupils aged 11 to 16. At this level, it goes on, state and Church schools are single gender while independent schools - some of which also offer an additional two years of upper secondary education sixth forms preparing students for Advanced and Intermediate' levels of the matriculation certificate examinations required for entry to University - are co-educational.

The glossary states that at Junior Lyceums, all pupils follow a common core curriculum (the national minimum curriculum), with the Education Division being responsible for the operation and supervision of public (state-funded) lower secondary schools and for the supervision of non-state schools to ensure that they comply with the operational rules laid down by the state.

Pupils who sit and succeed in the national secondary education certificate examination organised by the Matsec Board of the University of Malta receive the secondary education certificate which gives access to the Junior College and Higher Secondary School, MCAST, the Institute of Tourism Studies - which are also explained separately in the glossary - and non-state sixth forms or courses for a general certificate of education awarded by a United Kingdom university.

The glossary lists the Junior College as an institution offering two years of full-time general upper secondary education for students aged 16 to 18 or over as well as specialisation in a number of subjects at advanced and intermediate level. The Higher Education School, which falls under the direct responsibility of the Education Division, is listed as offering two years of full-time general upper secondary education to students aged 16 to 18 or over.

Regarding university, the glossary states this tertiary education institution offers multidisciplinary short, medium-length or long-term university level programmes for students generally from the age of 18. Admission, it continues, is subject to institutional and course requirements but students must normally hold a secondary education certificate and a university matriculation certificate (at Advanced and Intermediate level) obtained at the Junior College, Higher Secondary School and some independent and Church secondary schools, or recognised equivalent qualifications. It also states that the university is funded by the government and is autonomous and self-governing and that, while full-time courses are free, regular students are entitled to maintenance grants.

The glossary, financed by the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture, also contains summary tables of all the institutions in each of the listed countries. The institutions are arranged according to educational levels. The European Glossary Of Education (Educational Institutions) is the second volume to the European Glossary Of Education database.

Malta

Note: All state schools at ISCED level 2 are single gender. Institutions at ISCED level 3 and above are co-educational.

(ISCED=Unesco International Standard Classification of Education)