Vincent Marmarà Asks Serious Education Questions In Launch Of Fifth State Of The Nation Survey
Statistician Vincent Marmarà has posed a number of serious questions about the current state and future of Malta’s education system during the launch of the latest State of the Nation survey and conference.
Now in its fifth edition, the State of the Nation survey and national conference is set to take place at Verdala Palace on 6th June, with this year’s focus centred on education.
In a recent interview with Lovin Malta’s Tim Diacono, the leading statistician warned that the addictiveness of social media is harming people’s ability to focus and is forming “mental two-year olds”.
He is expected to expand on this viewpoint at the upcoming conference.
“While social media can be a useful tool if used wisely, it poses a very serious danger when it becomes almost as indispensable as the air we breathe,” Marmarà said.
“We are consuming a lot of low-quality content – short videos, continuous updates about other people’s lives and endless drama. All of this leads us to focus on other people, rather than on self-improvement.”
“Our minds are subtly being trained to only think in short bursts, with the result being a lack of patience and reflection. Have we stopped thinking in the long-term? Are we still asking critical questions and seeking serious answers?”
“Are we even trying to understand and solve problems ourselves before turning to AI for answers? How is all of this impacting our education?”
He said the conference will tackle issues such as whether homework should be scrapped, whether school hours should be extended, whether mobile phones and tablets facilitate education or serve as a distraction, and whether children are using technology to escape the burden of deeper thought.
“Technological progress is moving at a much faster rate than progress in our national curriculum. How can we teach young people to think in the classroom? Is the education system addressing mental health or causing more stress?”
“Could the education system be overprotecting young people from the realities of life they will someday have to face? Are students learning how to solve problems or do they fall apart at the first challenge?”
“While university years are probably the only period in which students have the freedom to think without limits, is this really happening? Is AI and ChatGPT a friend or foe to the university’s mission and critical thinking?”
“These are the questions people are talking about. But before the speakers, the public, and the experts begin discussing the state of the nation, we will start by presenting a picture of who the people are and what defines them from a scientific perspective. That way, we’ll hear from the people first, before the discussion begins.”