Voluntary work to be assessed in school leaving certificate

This is because as from June 2013 students finishing secondary school will be receiving a certificate which assesses all types of learning, not just performance in academic subjects but also sports related activities and voluntary work.

In this way, participation in organisation like scouts, band clubs and sports nurseries will contribute up to a tenth of the final mark awarded to each student upon finishing secondary school.

But only organisations accredited with the Malta Qualifications Council will be recognised by the educational authorities.

According to the Ministry of Education the number of registered groups already exceeds 650. The list is being continuously updated as more organisations register with the MQC.

The philosophy behind the new school leaving certificate is to accredit all learning that happens in the life of a student during the years of secondary education, “both inside and outside the school premises,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education told MaltaToday.

The Secondary school certificate will give a mark to each student.

Out of a maximum of 1,000 points, a tenth of the marks will be allocated as an assessment of students’ participation in learning activities after school hours.

In this way, students who form part of organisations, will be accredited for the learning they are gaining in an informal set-up.

The  new system has been criticised by Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson Mario Mallia during a recent seminar organised by the party.

Mallia welcomed the importance given to informal and non-formal education but criticised “the obsession with measuring everything in terms of marks.”

He also criticised the fact that educational activities are not being considered unless whoever certifies them gives the service. “How will the new system assess a son or daughter of a farmer who gains new skills by working on the family farm?” he asked.

Mallia proposed that the certificate should take the form of an experience portfolio rather than an exercise in numerical calculations.

But the Ministry spokesperson clarified that students will not be assessed for the participation in informal activities but will simply be given a mark on the basis of their attendance.

Each student will hand a special sheet on which the person responsible for the registered activity or organisation confirms his or her attendance in the activity or course.

Participation in an activity that lasts one term will be awarded 10 marks while any activity, which goes on for two or more terms will be awarded 20 marks.

Students can decide to take part in one-off activities like exhibitions, spring days and other similar activities will be awarded five marks per activity.

Asked whether this will put parents without financial means at a disadvantage because some clubs like sports nurseries expect to be paid for their services, a spokesperson for Minister Dolores Cristina replied that “no risk whatsoever exists since many after-school activities like MUSEUM lessons, boy scouts, the legion of Mary and voluntary work which are not against payment.”

Neither does the Ministry see a risk that parents will put more pressure on students to take on more activities. “Informal learning is quite different from formal learning and in a way, after a day of school, it might be quite relaxing to enjoy one’s favourite activity”.

Parents also know that students will only be accredited for one activity at a time “so they need not put pressure on their children to participate in as many activities as possible”.

“However, students have the option to list the range of activities in their annual profile”.

The Secondary School Certificate and Profile will incorporate a number of factors, including Formal Education, Personal Qualities, and Attendance.

Each of these areas is allotted a particular percentage of marks. The maximum number marks that can be accumulated by a student during the five years of secondary schooling are 1,000.

A maximum of 100 hundred marks will be awarded on the basis of attendance. Those attending less than 60% will not be awarded any marks.

A maximum of 550 marks will be allocated on the basis of students’ performance in formal education. Annual Examination marks and teacher assessment marks will be taken in to account to establish this mark.

150 marks will be awarded on the basis of personal qualities.

In total, 10 personal qualities will be assessed, eight of which are common for all secondary schools while two were decided upon at college level. The qualities to be assessed include attributes like leadership, entrepreneurship, sense of respect, altruism, teamwork, communicative skills and sense of responsibility.

Another 100 marks are allocated on the basis of students’ participation in any activity happening at school during school hours, which is not on the timetable. These activities may occur during break time or one-off activities, which teachers organise during the year.

The certification system first proposed by Cristina in 2009 is considered to be a first of its kind in Europe.

“Thanks to this profile created along the five-year secondary course, the employer and/or institutions that offer higher education will have a complete picture of the student’s educational itinerary,” the Ministry spokesperson said.