10-year-olds given mock divorce referendum, religion 'O' level asks students for views on divorce

The education ministry has contested allegations that Zebbug primary children had been "forced" to vote no in a mock referendum that was held as part of a classroom lesson in personal and social development (PSD).

“Nine voted in favour of divorce, while six said no. They wouldn’t have voted this way if they were told to vote ‘against’ divorce,” a spokesperson said.

The ministry confirmed the facts of the case reported by Moviment Iva, saying the divorce referendum was brought up during the lesson as a ‘contemporary’ example for a PSD lesson on democracy that was part of the standing syllabus. “The teacher, to make the lesson more interesting, used the referendum campaign as an example,” Schiavone said, adding that the children were also asked to stand up to make an argument in favour of or against divorce.

Asked about the sensibility of the decision to use an example that has considerable emotional baggage attached, the spokesperson held back from discussing the merits of the decision. “It is something that the teacher decided. The lesson was about democracy, and, he felt that to raise interest he used an real life example.”

The spokesperson was also asked about what education policy says about involving children in current affairs debates that have electoral significance. “I do not know what policy there is in that regard. I will know after I make enquires with the Education Division... I am not saying that the decision to use the divorce referendum as an example on how democracy works was a good idea."

The ministry had no comment to make on other allegations that the MATSEC 'O' level in religion contained a question on divorce that carried penalties for examinees who wrote in favour of divorce.

Speaking during a press conference on Saturday, Iva chairperson Dr Deborah Schembri slammed what she described as “indoctrination of children” during the Zebbug primary's PSD lesson.

“Children were told to mark ‘no’ on the ‘ballot’ paper, which was then placed into a classroom ballot box,” Schembri said. “These are 10-year-old children who are years away from being able to vote,” she said. “Why are they being drawn in the middle of an issue so directly?”

She added that the movement had contacted the school’s administration, which confirmed the mock schoolroom vote had taken place, and that the intention behind was to “educate children about democracy.”

“Why now?” she said, commenting on the seemingly opportune timing. “Why a question about divorce?” she added.

She also revealed that a religion 'O' level exam question, which students sat for earlier that day, questioned whether the students were against or in favour of the introduction of divorce. The MATSEC question asked students to 'react' to a statement such as 'divorce is only justified when there is no mutual love between a couple', and discuss the merits of their position.

“The concerned students were told by teachers that if they answered that they were in favour of divorce, they were not good Christians and would lose examination marks,” Schembri said.

"This is condemnable and shouldn’t be part of anyone’s agenda. There are ways and ways to involve children in the debate, but this indoctrination campaign needs to stop.”

Schembri said she was not singling out Moviment Zwieg Bla Divorzju specifically, “but it is clear that this is being done by the anti-divorce lobby.”

She also hit out at an anti-divorce billboard depicting a child that ‘asks’ the public to vote against divorce "in [its] name". “Who are we to think that one can put words into the mouth of any child?... Does that child come from a happy household, or from a broken family full of suffering and despair?"

The lobby also presented documentation quoting a Spanish academic who said that the introduction of divorce in Spain in 2004 led to a divorce rate that is normal compared to other countries, greater social equity in access to dissolution of marriage, rise in the rate of marriage, and greater economic protection for divorced women. The movement also quoted a Washington Post article published on May 18 which said that the number of long-lasting marriages in the United Sates has risen.