Points from a speech made by the Hon. Evarist Bartolo, Minister of Education and National Culture, during the inauguration of the Information Systems Fair organised by AIESEC - University of Malta - 24.3.98

Introduction

• The school environment has not changed significantly since the Middle Ages. The next century, however, will see schools and education radically redefined in response to information technology. The pressure on schools will come from outside the educational community.

• The technology gap between the school and the real outside world is growing so wide and so fast, that the educational experience is at risk of becoming unproductive and irrelevant to the real-world.

• Industry has already adjusted to benefit from the productivity gains that are the rewards of exploiting information technology.

• The job market is increasingly demanding computer-literate workers. Computers can provide a whole new dimension to learning.

• The focus needs to change from how to teach the same things better to what needs to be learned.

• Like the black board, the computer must be accepted as a basic tool for all teachers.

• Through technology the four walls of the classroom can expand to encompass the whole world.

• First, however, the educational system needs to change so that teachers become the facilitators of learning not simply the deliverers.

Secondary Education

I. T Applications

Through funds allocated by the fourth EU financial protocol a total of 40 labs with 12 computers each, have been installed in all Secondary Schools. These include Junior Lyceums, Opportunity Centres, Area Secondary and Trade Schools. This year all computers have been upgraded from `286s to Multimedia Pentium.

During the Scholastic Year 94-95 'I.T. Applications' was introduced in Form 1. Subsequently it was introduced in Forms Two, Three and Four. 'I.T. Applications' was launched with the specific aim of acquainting students with commonly used office applications and their use in learning 'regular' subject. Initially three subjects were chosen: English, Mathematics and Social Studies.

Computer Awareness was also introduced in Form Five as stop-gap solution to ensure that imminent school-leavers have basic computer awareness and skills.

In the present layout the IT teacher is expected to teach Mathematics, English and Social Studies. This is somewhat unrealistic especially in the upper forms. Also there is no communications between the IT teacher and the subject teachers. This creates an inefficient and unproductive situation. Furthermore the student is neither learning information technology nor learning effectively the other subjects through IT.

'I.T. Applications' has served its main objective i.e. launching I.T. in all Secondary Schools. Now we should evolve into a more realistic scenario.

Presently the division, in conjunction with the Faculty of the University, is working on an Information Technology Curriculum. It is planned that as from next Year 'IT Applications' will be replaced with 'Information Technology.'

As from next Year the teachers of Mathematics of Form 1 and Form 2 will start teaching Mathematics through IT. Special training of the course coordinators and Math's teachers has already commenced. Software for the teaching of Mathematics is going to be procured through normal tendering procedures.

Another Computer laboratory is going to be added in schools with a student population higher than 700. In the following years, I.T. will be progressively introduced across the curriculum of all the subjects followed in the Secondary Sector.

Computer Studies

The Division is working towards the introduction of Computer Studies as an option in the latter years of Secondary School. One of the major problems is the shortage of teachers. In the B.Educ degree few students opt to take IT as the area of specialisation.

The B.Sc.(Hons) I.T. was only launched in October 1995 and it is improbable that the first graduates will opt to join the Education Division.

An IT Certification Course is being organised at the University to help form Secondary School teachers in I.T.