THE CREATION OF FOCUS GROUPS BY THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM COUNCIL

The implementation of the National Curriculum is a national project of major importance, a landmark in the history of educational development and provision in Malta of our times. The programme is visionary, ambitious and highly demanding and requires extraordinary structures and procedures for its implementation. The implementation has also a very specific life span, as delineated in the Strategic Plan.

Of primary importance among these structures and procedures is the newly established National Curriculum Council (NCC) and the sixteen Focus Groups that are being formed following a call for applications open to all the public.

The Focus Groups will need to analyse educational situations, research programmes and initiatives, make decisions about the type of provision chosen, go in for hands-on projects in partnership with schools, answer to calls for support, guidance and collaboration from schools as these implement the National Curriculum, involve parents in a fruitful collaborative effort, liaise with a range of government and non-government organisations on educational projects and keep the public regularly and accurately informed.

To fulfil their roles and responsibilities Focus Groups will need to work closely with all schools, State, Church and independent, with educators within the Education Division, the Faculty of Education and also abroad, as well as with other organisations and individuals who can contribute to the implementation of the National Curriculum.