Evolution curriculum set to evolve

According to the proposals of the Vision for Science Education in Maltapublished this year, these are more than just nominal changes. All three major subjects will contain elements of the other two, while a fourth generic subject, Core Science, will also provide a basic introduction also to students who do not opt for sciences at all.

The new system aims to move away from the traditionally ‘exclusivity’ of the former model, towards a more holistic approach to science as a whole.

It is in the generic Core Science module (starting Form 1) that the theme of evolution - topic of much controversy in countries such as the USA, where it is often challenged on purely religious grounds – will now make its first appearance.

This departs from the current format, whereby only Biology students are exposed to the complexity of (among others) Charles Darwin’s theory natural selection… and even here, only in limited form.

At present, the Biology syllabus covers “evolutionary development of unicellular life forms into multicellular life forms”: a selective view that excludes the development of life before the development of the earliest  eukaryotic cell,  and also the emergence of later species, including Man.

An Education Ministry spokesman explained this week that “The revision of science syllabi that is planned to take place following the launch of the science strategy will possibly include further discussion of the issue of evolution in the higher forms. The aim of this reform is to ensure that all learners have exposure to aspects of biology, including evolution.”

And despite an apparent surge in Biblical literalism in Malta recently – characterized by the introduction of creationism in at least one Evangelical schooland the recent efforts by international creationist networks to target the local education system – the Education Ministry rejects the view that Creationism should be presented as an alternative topic in science classes.

“Creationism is not considered as part of the Science curriculum and there are no plans to include it as part of evolutionary theory. Steps are being taken to include the issue of biology in all aspects of science following the publication of the Science Vision and Strategy.”

The proposed changes will help align Malta’s national curriculum with the basic aims of the Council of Europe’s Resolution 1580, which holds that “the teaching of all phenomena concerning evolution as a fundamental scientific theory is therefore crucial to the future of our societies and our democracies. For that reason, it must occupy a central position in the curriculums…”

The same resolution also urges states to “firmly oppose the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution and in general the presentation of creationist ideas in any discipline other than religion.”

Separately, evolution is also dealt with in passing in the extant Religion syllabus. In keeping with Catholic doctrine on the subject, the religious view of evolution broadly concurs with the scientific approach in so far as physical (body) evolution is concerned, arguing that the book of Genesis leaves Christians free to make up their own minds.

“However, we must distinguish between the evolution of the body and the evolution of the soul. Regarding the evolution of the body, there do not seem to be any serious arguments to prove that this did not occur.”