All students should receive some education in the arts, says Bartolo

Education minister explains his decision to have 'expressive arts' lesson

Education minister Evarist Bartolo this morning said that all students, from a young age, should receive some form of formal education in the arts.

In an attempt to dispel concerns by teachers of art, drama and music – who received Bartolo’s initial statements this week on integrating the arts subjects with some trepidation – the minister said that his proposal was merely to encourage students towards expressing themselves artistically and culturally.

“Whereas in the past students chose whether to do the arts or not, we would like to implement a system whereby all students receive some form of education in artistic expression… even if just in the first three months of secondary school,” he said.

“I think that the intention is a good one and I think that everyone would agree with this,” he said, but stressed that he would be ready to listen to proposals on how this could be implemented.

Bartolo said that his reasoning was further reinforced during a consultative meeting he had yesterday with secondary schools.

“It was interesting that, without me even asking, they told me that they wished to be given the chance to take part in more than one such subject,” he said.

The minister was speaking at the launching of the second phase of the ‘One tablet per child’ project, which will commence in October 2014.

Bartolo said that, as of October, classes in Grade 4, as well as some other classes in Grade 3 and Grade 5 in 13 state, three church schools, two independent and three complimentary facilities will be supplied with electronic tablets. The Wardija Institute will also be included, bringing the total number of classes to 22.

He said that LSAs (Learning Support Assistants) will also be supplied with tablets, so as to include students with special needs in the programme.
He said that the tablet programme was an educational initiative and not a technological one. “It's not a case of 'handing out candy'... this national roll-out will keep on taking place into the 2015-16 scholastic years.”

“As of today until September, teachers will be supplied with tablets to asses how it can be integrated into the curriculum."

The minister, whilst admitting that students will be able to take the tablet home, stressed that teachers would be responsible for the means by which the device is used during school hours.

Citing the recent Eurobaromoter survey - which showed that no less than 75% of Maltese said that they do not do any form of exercise – Bartolo said that the introduction of the tablet should not serve as an alternative means of leisure.