Number of students with serious behavioural problems "multiplying"

The Archbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca yesterday urged school teachers to make a concerted effort to foster much-needed spirituality among students.

"God is sadly not part of our lives any longer and I am concerned about school students. It is up to teachers to relay their Catholic learnings to their students," Mgr Mercieca said.

The archbishop was speaking at the inaugural session of the five-day Malta European seminar on "Catholic Education in Europe" organised by the Secretariat for Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Malta at the New Dolmen Hotel in Qawra.

Mgr Mercieca stressed the importance of Catholicism remaining alive in schools, adding that the government had a duty to promote Catholic beliefs.

He told teachers they had a duty to instil in children the spirituality that was often lacking at home.

"The challenges to Christ's teaching have always existed and it is up to you to teach them how to differentiate between right and wrong."

Education Minister Louis Galea said the number of students with serious behavioural problems in schools was not simply increasing but multiplying.

"I am very much aware that students with serious behavioural problems, with very unstable family backgrounds and with unsettling emotional problems can be found in state, Church and independent schools," he said.

What was happening in Malta's schools was actually a reflection of what was happening in and to the family, in and to society at large, he said.

Dr Galea said the government was subsidising Catholic education by an annual grant which in 2002 would exceed Lm9.5 million.

This substantial financial support from the government helped the Church keep its schools open and made it easier for parents to consider Church schools as an option for their children's education.

Eighteen per cent of children attend Church kindergartens, 24 per cent of the student population attend Church schools at primary and secondary level and eight per cent of students attend Church post-secondary schools.

"Only administrators and educators who are inspired by Catholic principles and values in their teaching, approach and personal behaviour can ensure a Catholic atmosphere and environment in Church schools," Dr Galea said.

Over the last 30 years, as a result of a substantial reduction in the number of religious vocations and the number of religious people who actually left their Order, the education of Church school students was becoming increasingly dependent or even totally dependent on lay Catholic teachers.

In an external environment that tended to concentrate on other issues, religion might be set aside, creating a vacuum in the process, Dr Galea said.

He said the national curriculum specifically acknowledged the importance of teaching religion.

"We can no longer live under the illusion that the Maltese are Catholic with common fundamental religious and spiritual beliefs and moral values that underpin our daily life.

"More than ever before, basic principles, values and beliefs are being challenged as a result of extremely strong external influences and internal turmoil."

Dr Galea said schools needed to cater for the whole range of children, whatever their intellectual potential and their family and social background.

In order to remain faithful to their vocation, Catholic schools should be at the forefront to provide truly inclusive education where no child was discriminated against, left out or excluded.

Teachers from both state and independent schools have been invited to the seminar, which will seek to address a number of issues such as the relevance of Catholic education today and how Malta should respond to the changes taking place in different European societies and cultures.

One of the main speakers is Bro. Herman Lombaerts, professor at the Catholic university of Leuven, Belgium.

In 1989, he set up a project on the management of Christian schools, particularly in relation to the full leadership of lay people in Catholic schools.

Other speakers include Dr Elzbieta Osewska, who holds a doctorate in pastoral theology, and Fr Alan Scerri, headmaster of St Augustine College.