Guest Post: I’m 16 And Malta’s Educational System Hasn’t Prepared Me To Vote

The word democracy is composed of two words – demos, meaning the people, and kratos, power, and leadership. In Malta, those people include all those over 16 who are of sane mind and Maltese citizens who have one vote to use in a fair election – a vote which is a voice that many take for granted.

At 16, you’re not allowed to consume alcohol and cannabis (and rightly so) but you’re expected to decide the island’s fate. I feel like Prometheus has just given me fire – I don’t know if I’ll burn myself or whether I’ll use it for the better. 

Most people my age feel clueless. Most of us never had an interest in politics. Just a few years ago, we were obsessed with dalgona coffee, pastel bucket hats, and the Renegade – and now that we glance at the prospecting candidates, we feel like we’re watching an old YouTube video with a 144p quality.

Unfortunately, our education system and society have failed to prepare us to choose candidates and be proactive in our decision and take action ourselves. 

And while we’re on the subject of school, the taboo subject of politics is barely scratched beneath the surface with a timid question of “Who is the PL leader, and who is the PN’s?”.

“Emm…Bob-sorry Robert u l-ieħor x’jismu bħalissa?” is the usual reply. There’s little to no mention of third parties, the district system or any other handy information which would help us students make a critical decision.

I’m not saying that I shouldn’t have a say in how our country is ruled – after all, I’m a Maltese citizen who is expected to pay taxes on my job this summer.

I’m not saying that I feel better when I’m ignored and not entrusted with the mammoth task of choosing who will make decisions on running the country and how my taxes are going to be spent in the next five years.  

All I want is a decent system that offers me a holistic education that helps me choose critically. An education system that exposes me to all the different political systems and helps me analyse the best one, the one which I would like to see in my country.

I would prefer learning about modern Maltese political history in my history lessons, instead of only being taught about the Second World War, Independence, Freedom Day and then skipping straight to the 2004 European Union membership. 

I don’t want to get my political information from unreliable sources like partisan TV stations and mass meetings (or rallies as they’re being called while they breach COVID-19 protocols as restrictions remain on schools).

I don’t want to vote like many do “għax aħna tal-azzar hi”, “għax il-Maduma!”, and be taken away by the “Prosit Ministru”. culture. I don’t want to abstain from my vote either and create a political disaster like Poland is in currently.

I feel like the title of the 1967 Eurovision-winning song – Puppet on String by Sandy Shaw. I’ve been provided with virtually no information in simple terms on current affairs. You can say the word greylisting till you turn blue in the face but if you don’t tell me what it actually means what’s the point? 

I feel like I’m in a major dilemma. Shall I use my vote wisely, in a way that I do not regret it when I’m older?

I think that the solution is to have internet platforms that give us unbiased information on our political history and electoral system in a format that is easily understood by everyone.

Something that will change us from sheeple who depend on clientelism to independent people who know what’s best for themselves, the country, the future.