Compulsory Education (5-16 years)

Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of five and sixteen. Compulsory education is sub-divided into a six-year primary cycle (five to ten years) and five years of secondary education (eleven to sixteen years). The government is committed to a policy of inclusive education throughout the whole educational cycle. This ensures that children with special needs are integrated into the mainstream.

Primary Education

Primary education builds on early childhood education and facilitates the development of skills, attitudes and knowledge in preparation for the secondary level. Primary education is free of charge and includes school transport and textbooks. Primary schools are co-educational.

The primary cycle where classes are called years can be broadly sub-divided in two cycles. The first cycle covers Years One, Two and Three. During these three years education emphasises the development of social skills, literacy and numeracy skills, gradually progressing to more formal academic skills. During the second cycle that covers Years Four, Five and Six there is more emphasis on the academic content. Progressively as children move towards the end of primary education the amount of academic content increases in preparation for the Junior Lyceum Examination.

Secondary Education

At secondary level there are three different kinds of state schools. Namely the Junior Lyceums, Area Secondary Schools and schools for very low achievers. There are also church and independent secondary schools.

Admission into the state Junior Lyceums (schools offering a more intensive academic course) and into some of the church schools is controlled by a qualifying entrance examination. Pupils are examined in Maltese, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Religious Knowledge (children may be exempted from sitting for Religious Knowledge if parents object on ground of conscience). Those who fail the examination are admitted to the Area Secondary Schools. The schools for low achievers receive pupils whose levels of attainment after six years of primary education were considered still very low.

The age group of children attending secondary level schools is between eleven and sixteen years. Most schools at this level are single-sex. The organisation of secondary schools is based on year groups called Forms, so the first year of secondary education would be Form 1, the second year Form II and so on. The classification and grouping of the students in the first two years is based upon the language they choose to study at this level and on the grades acquired in the Junior Lyceum entrance examination. Beyond Form II the basis for the students' classification and grouping is the subject options chosen. In area secondary schools the students are grouped mainly on the basis of the language option and on the examination marks obtained at the end of the primary cycle.

Teachers in Compulsory Education

The Faculty of Education within the University of Malta confers a degree in education at bachelor's level, B.Ed (Hons). The faculty also organises a Post-Graduate certificate in Education for those students from other faculties who want to take up teaching. The duration of the Bachelor's course is four years whilst the post-graduate certificate course lasts one year. During both courses the students have teaching practice attachments in schools. Teachers may either specialise in teaching at primary level (early years or junior years) or they may specialise in a particular subject at secondary level. The faculty provides postgraduate degrees at both masters and doctorate levels.

Guidance and Counselling in Compulsory Education

Guidance and counselling in primary and secondary schools is provided by the Guidance and Counselling Service found within the Department of Student Services and International Relations at the Education Division.

The main services offerred are the following:

These services are co-ordinated and delivered by the Education Officer (Guidance & Counselling) together with School Counsellors and Guidance Teachers. There is a guidance teacher for every 300 pupils and he/she works in collaboration with the teaching staff.

School counsellors are responsible for the running of a guidance and counselling service in one large school or in a number of smaller schools. They help and support guidance teachers and other members of staff regarding any requests of counselling by pupils. School counsellors must be teachers who are in possession of a recognised qualification in counselling and have 10 years of teaching experience in state schools (in the case of school counsellors in the secondary sector, 5 years of this teaching experience should be as guidance teacher).

Guidance teachers work closely with the school counsellors and they are encouraged to consult with or refer to them any cases regarding pupils who require counselling. Guidance teachers offer information to pupils and parents about procedures necessary in accessing the available services, subject options and career choices. They co-operate with the school counsellors and teaching staff in the organisation of guidance and counselling activities and services at schools and at national level. Guidance teachers are offered the opportunity to follow a Diploma level course of studies at the University of Malta.