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11 Things That Need To Change In Malta If We Really Want The Best Education System

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Malta touts itself as a leader in many different fields, but when you stop and think about it, none are as pivotal as education. And while some would have you think that we’re doing quite well when it comes to that, I tend to differ. And as a Maltese student myself, I’ve got some suggestions.

Here are 11 things I think need to change if we really want to have an educational system worthy of praise and pride.

1. Stop the addiction on exams

It’s high time that we tackle the obsession our country has on exams.

Our success throughout our education depends on a piece of paper which we use to regurgitate what we’ve stuffed in our minds. This is present at every educational level, from O-Levels to A-Levels, to even University.

Exams underpin the student experience because they take up so much of our time. With so little time and so much information to remember, life is STRESSFUL.

We need to fight the problem of stress-induced exam addiction but seriously, this is not healthy for us.

2. Stop it with the Pappagalliżmu

As if life wasn’t difficult enough with the exams, the entire system is based on what we remember off by heart… which renders the function of the brain completely useless. What is the point of having an education if our creativity is crushed with never-ending parroting?

With that said, it is urgent that we get critical thinking in the classrooms and have discussions as the mainstay of our education.

We are not parrots… so stop treating us that way!

3. Get rid of useless subjects… or at least make them more interesting

Most likely there will be so many subjects seen as useless if every student was asked about it. (I don’t know about you, but I surely have the abbreviation S.O.K. in mind).

We really need to do something about it. Either we get rid of the subjects that just feel like they reduce our IQ, or go for the middle ground and plead for an urgent change so they can at least be interesting.

4. Calm down with excessive homework and assessments – we need a social life too

To be honest, assessments should be an alternative to exams. Imma madonna, secondary school is just years and years of never-ending homework damnation. Just to add a little more pressure, because you know… exam pressure ain’t enough for us.

But guess what, did you know that we also need a social life outside of school?

5. Focus on hands-on experience – there is just too much theory

There are much better things to do than just warming the seats with our butts and learning about theory. It would be nice that we spend a good amount of our time on hands-on experience. Much better than sitting down and not talking if you asked me.

The theory stuff is just useless if we are not trained to adapt to the working environment. Education is disattached from the real world, period.

6. Give priority to sports, arts and music – we need to focus on teamwork and creativity

These have to be given a major priority. There are many of us who would see all three of them absolutely useless, but they must be an integral part of our education.

The science backs this up, as they help in building teamwork. discipline, creativity and other benefits that we wouldn’t have even known of.

7. Find a different way to get students interested in foreign languages

AHHH MATSEC, your attempt to introduce compulsory foreign languages in Sixth Form will forever be seen as a great injustice.

But honestly, you guys really need to find a better way to get students interested in foreign languages. There has to be a complete remodelling on how young people will have to be taught languages.

Yes, languages are very important but please, don’t shove them down our throats.

8. Focus on civic education

Our secondary education should not just be about Maths, Maltese and English. We need a system that needs to introduce us to Maltese society so we can feel attached.

Currently, schools are just isolation camps… and then we get blamed for not being active in society.

9. Give us space for extracurricular activities

This just brings me back to too much of everything; assignments, exams and civic education. Students need to be given a good portion of their time to get involved in society.

Stop controlling students’ lives and let them explore!

10. Call out lecturers for their problematic behaviour

Someone has to say this out in the open. We’ve all heard stories – and some have also experienced it themselves – of teachers being horrible to students and abusing their position for their own personal gain.

This has rarely – if ever – been said out in the public, because obviously who wants to deal with the backlash? We really need to start taking action against teachers and lecturers that are left off the hook.

^ Clip not related. Or is it?

11. Give teachers a decent pay. They bloody deserve it

There may be teachers that you don’t really like for some reason or another, but then there are teachers that are dedicated AF to the schools and to each and everyone of us. They take so much of their time trying to give us the best education ever.

They not only deserve a decent working environment and we should do our part to make their experience fulfilling, but most importantly they must have the pay that they deserve.

What do you make of this? Let us know in the comments below

READ NEXT: Mandatory Foreign Language For Maltese Sixth Formers Is Discriminatory, Union Head Warns

Likes a good conversation while drinking coffee. Frequently reads a book or binge-watches a series when relaxing.

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