Highlights of Education Highlights of Education system in Maltasystem in Malta

Gozo CollegeGozo College‘‘Working, Achieving and Working, Achieving and

Succeeding together’Succeeding together’

Ms. Irene S VellaMs. Irene S VellaLiteracy Support TeacherLiteracy Support Teacher

Gozo College Mission Gozo College Mission StatementStatementThe Gozo College, firmly believes thatThe Gozo College, firmly believes that• every child matters;every child matters;• every child can be a powerful learner;every child can be a powerful learner;• every child can be intelligent if taught effectively;every child can be intelligent if taught effectively;• by working together we can work smarter,by working together we can work smarter,• is promising to provide a holistic education of the highest quality to each and every is promising to provide a holistic education of the highest quality to each and every

learner entrusted in its care and to the whole Gozitan community that it serves,learner entrusted in its care and to the whole Gozitan community that it serves,• the aims being to enhancethe aims being to enhance• pupil learning with a clear pedagogical focus to embrace all learners and teachers;pupil learning with a clear pedagogical focus to embrace all learners and teachers;• adult learning where teachers learn alongside their learners through collaborative adult learning where teachers learn alongside their learners through collaborative

approaches and, where, in a perspective of life-long learning, parents and the whole approaches and, where, in a perspective of life-long learning, parents and the whole community are included;community are included;

• leadership for learning and leadership development focusing on the training and the leadership for learning and leadership development focusing on the training and the professional development of the Senior Management Teams;professional development of the Senior Management Teams;

• school-wide learning, the idea being to transform schools into learning organizations school-wide learning, the idea being to transform schools into learning organizations and learning communities;and learning communities;

• school to school learning where professionals can work together sharing knowledge school to school learning where professionals can work together sharing knowledge and good practice in a process of co-construction with others outside school;and good practice in a process of co-construction with others outside school;

• network to network learning where transfer of knowledge from network to network network to network learning where transfer of knowledge from network to network is encouraged;is encouraged;

• action research in a continuous process of reflection and self-evaluation.action research in a continuous process of reflection and self-evaluation.

Different Schools in the Gozo CollegeDifferent Schools in the Gozo College• State schools (11 kinder & primary schools (from ages 3-11) + (2 State schools (11 kinder & primary schools (from ages 3-11) + (2

secondary schools – one for the boys and one for the girls (ages 11-16)secondary schools – one for the boys and one for the girls (ages 11-16)• Church schools (4 kinder & primary schools (from ages 3 -11) + (2 Church schools (4 kinder & primary schools (from ages 3 -11) + (2

secondary schools – one for the boys and one for the girls ages 11-16)secondary schools – one for the boys and one for the girls ages 11-16)• In Gozo we have no Private entity schools. In Malta there are at In Gozo we have no Private entity schools. In Malta there are at

primary and secondary level. primary and secondary level. • At 16+ level in Gozo we have 6At 16+ level in Gozo we have 6thth Form (this is for 2 years and you get a Form (this is for 2 years and you get a

certificate to go to University)certificate to go to University)• Another option at 16+ is MCAST (it is a vocational / techinical college Another option at 16+ is MCAST (it is a vocational / techinical college

which includes also foundation courses)which includes also foundation courses)• In Gozo we also have one special school which is a part of a In Gozo we also have one special school which is a part of a

‘mainstream’ primary school. ‘mainstream’ primary school. • We have a School of Music, School of Drama, School of Crafts, School We have a School of Music, School of Drama, School of Crafts, School

of Artsof Arts• We also have a Gozo University branch where part time degrees are We also have a Gozo University branch where part time degrees are

held. held.

• Teachers are chosen by a board of the Education Teachers are chosen by a board of the Education Department. (by interview) The heads of school have Department. (by interview) The heads of school have no control over the teachers sent to teach in her/his no control over the teachers sent to teach in her/his school. school.

• We have formal exams starting from year 4 (8-9 years We have formal exams starting from year 4 (8-9 years old), then in year 5 and then at year 6 we have the 11+ old), then in year 5 and then at year 6 we have the 11+ exam which is very important. There is the half yearly exam which is very important. There is the half yearly exam which is prepared by teachers themselves and exam which is prepared by teachers themselves and then there is the Annual exam which is standardised then there is the Annual exam which is standardised and is prepared by the Education Department. and is prepared by the Education Department.

• At secondary level they also have half yearly exams At secondary level they also have half yearly exams and Annual examsand Annual exams

• Then at the last year of secondary school (form 5) they Then at the last year of secondary school (form 5) they have to do their O levels or GCSE. They need a have to do their O levels or GCSE. They need a minimum of 6 to apply for 6minimum of 6 to apply for 6thth Form. Then after 2 years Form. Then after 2 years at 6at 6thth Form they have to do an exam which is called the Form they have to do an exam which is called the Matriculation Certificate which includes 2 A level and 4 Matriculation Certificate which includes 2 A level and 4 intermediate exams. Once a student obtains this intermediate exams. Once a student obtains this certificate he/she can apply for university, certificate he/she can apply for university,

Support Teachers at the Gozo Support Teachers at the Gozo CollegeCollege• We have a very good system of peripatetic teachers in the We have a very good system of peripatetic teachers in the

primary schoolsprimary schools• Literacy Support Teacher (1) MELiteracy Support Teacher (1) ME• Drama Teachers (2)Drama Teachers (2)• ICT Teachers (2)ICT Teachers (2)• Health & Safety Teachers (3)Health & Safety Teachers (3)• P.S.D. Teachers (5)P.S.D. Teachers (5)• Science Teachers (3)Science Teachers (3)• Eco school Teacher (1) Eco school Teacher (1) • Early Intervention Teacher (1)Early Intervention Teacher (1)• P.E. Teachers (5)P.E. Teachers (5)• Music Teachers (3)Music Teachers (3)• Complementary Teaches (9)Complementary Teaches (9)• Art Teachers (2)Art Teachers (2)• Home Tuition Teacher (1)Home Tuition Teacher (1)

School TimeSchool Time

• School starts at 8.30 and finishes at School starts at 8.30 and finishes at 2.30 for primary schools and 2.30 for primary schools and secondary schools. secondary schools.

• In primary they have a first break In primary they have a first break from 10.10 till 10.30 and another one from 10.10 till 10.30 and another one from 12.30 till 1.00. from 12.30 till 1.00.

• In secondary break varies depending In secondary break varies depending on time table of school. on time table of school.

StreamingStreaming

• We have streaming in primary schools year We have streaming in primary schools year 5 and year 6. However in most schools 5 and year 6. However in most schools there is only one class per year so we have there is only one class per year so we have no streaming there. (Gozo college co-no streaming there. (Gozo college co-ordinator wants to change this) ordinator wants to change this)

• In secondary schools there is streaming but In secondary schools there is streaming but the classes are not named A, B, C but at the the classes are not named A, B, C but at the boys’ they are named with colours while at boys’ they are named with colours while at the girls’ these have the names of flowers. the girls’ these have the names of flowers.

Learning Support AssistantsLearning Support Assistants

• We have a system of facilitators / We have a system of facilitators / learning support assistants in learning support assistants in primary and secondary schools. primary and secondary schools. Students need to be statemented Students need to be statemented with a report and then they can be with a report and then they can be assigned a facilitator to help them.assigned a facilitator to help them.

• There is a huge waiting list. There is a huge waiting list.

TrainingTraining

• Every year every teacher has to do a 3 day Every year every teacher has to do a 3 day in service training course at the end of the in service training course at the end of the school year in Julyschool year in July

• Also we need to attend three two hour Also we need to attend three two hour sessions per scholastic year. sessions per scholastic year.

• Also, each school has to do a School Also, each school has to do a School Development Plan. They use a whole day Development Plan. They use a whole day to do this plan. to do this plan.

• Other staff meeting are done throughout Other staff meeting are done throughout the year (one per term) and during these the year (one per term) and during these times, students leave school at 12.00.times, students leave school at 12.00.

Adult EducationAdult Education

• We have a system of Evening classes offering courses in We have a system of Evening classes offering courses in English, Maltese, Numeracy, ICT, other languages, Crafts English, Maltese, Numeracy, ICT, other languages, Crafts etc. . . . etc. . . .

• At MCAST a foundation course is offered in Basic SkillsAt MCAST a foundation course is offered in Basic Skills• Also at Local Council sites courses in ICT are being offered. Also at Local Council sites courses in ICT are being offered. • Other courses of Basic Skills have been offered at the Gozo Other courses of Basic Skills have been offered at the Gozo

university branch with funds of EU. university branch with funds of EU. • ETC (Employment Training Centre) also offers coursesETC (Employment Training Centre) also offers courses• Internet can be accessed by everyone at the local councilsInternet can be accessed by everyone at the local councils• Also internet connections were subsidised by the Also internet connections were subsidised by the

government – there were special offers. government – there were special offers.

Family LiteracyFamily Literacy

• We have a foundation (FES) which has We have a foundation (FES) which has been working a lot on this issuebeen working a lot on this issue

• Different programmes: NWAR & HILTIDifferent programmes: NWAR & HILTI• NWAR: 1 hour session twice a week. A NWAR: 1 hour session twice a week. A

tutor with one or 2 students plus a tutor with one or 2 students plus a parent/relative of the student/s (age group parent/relative of the student/s (age group 8-16)8-16)

• HILTI : after school programme two hours HILTI : after school programme two hours twice a week – family literacy programme twice a week – family literacy programme (school decides which age group) (I was a (school decides which age group) (I was a HILTI site co-ordinator for 4 years)HILTI site co-ordinator for 4 years)

Support GroupsSupport Groups

• At the Gozo college we have the At the Gozo college we have the support group of ADHD and the support group of ADHD and the support groups of Dyslexiasupport groups of Dyslexia

ICT in schoolsICT in schools

• Every primary class has 4 computers in class plus Every primary class has 4 computers in class plus a monitor and a dvd and each primary school a monitor and a dvd and each primary school teacher has a laptop.teacher has a laptop.

• From last week every secondary teacher has a From last week every secondary teacher has a laptop and also every peripatetic teacher has one laptop and also every peripatetic teacher has one too. too.

• Also each person working with the government Also each person working with the government has an e mail address of the government system. has an e mail address of the government system.

• Training was given and is still being given by ICT Training was given and is still being given by ICT experts working within the Government system. experts working within the Government system.

Literacy Literacy • Literacy Centre – One illiterate child is one Literacy Centre – One illiterate child is one

child too many. child too many.

• Book FloodBook Flood

• Different other projects every year in Different other projects every year in different schools – different schools – boysread@ninucremona.comboysread@ninucremona.com

• Stories from different culturesStories from different cultures

• Stories at home for kinder studentsStories at home for kinder students

• Literacy through dramaLiteracy through drama

Dissemination of Good Dissemination of Good practicespractices• Best Language practice awardBest Language practice award• Sharing practices at the College of Heads meetingsSharing practices at the College of Heads meetings• Peripatetic teachers disseminate practices being Peripatetic teachers disseminate practices being

done in different schoolsdone in different schools• InternetInternet• School magazinesSchool magazines• Other publications of the Ministry of EducationOther publications of the Ministry of Education• Radio ProgrammesRadio Programmes• Education 22 (Tv station)Education 22 (Tv station)• Newspaper ArticlesNewspaper Articles

Training Training • Training I have organised during this Training I have organised during this

scholastic yearscholastic year

• Training for parents in the Dyslexia Training for parents in the Dyslexia Support Group (one seminar by a Support Group (one seminar by a psychologist, 2 sessions about Dyslexia psychologist, 2 sessions about Dyslexia and Maths, one session by SPLD director, and Maths, one session by SPLD director, and meetings during Dyslexia Awareness and meetings during Dyslexia Awareness Day.Day.

• Training for Teachers: One seminar by a Training for Teachers: One seminar by a Special Need Expert, 2 whole day course Special Need Expert, 2 whole day course about a Multisensory approach to teaching about a Multisensory approach to teaching MalteseMaltese