Greens say banding would put the clock back in education

Different forms of streaming, such as banding, in state primary schools, will put the clock back in education, the Green Party said.

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson for education Mario Mallia described the introduction of banding as “in contradiction” with government’s own strategy for the next ten years in education.

“Research has shown that segregation of children, particularly at a young age, leads to labels for life; children in particular streams remain in the same streams throughout their educational experience,” he said.  

This, Mallia added, condemns a substantial number of children especially those from particular socio-economic groups and substantially limits their life chances.  

“This in itself contradicts government's strategy document that aims to reduce the wide gap that exists between educational attainment of particular groups of students over others.”  

Mallia also argued that the introduction of selection on the basis of standardized exams in primary schools will make primary education once again hostage to undue pressure and stress on children, teachers and parents.  

“The recent past has shown that this will elbow out spaces for creativity, the arts and physical education among other areas.  It seems that there were no lessons learnt,” Mallia said.

AD chairperson Arnold Cassola insisted that the government “cannot look forward by going backward.” 

He said government cannot dismiss the fact that it was a selective system which the country had embraced for ages that led to the national results in the international studies being quoted.  

Cassola added that the education reform launched some years ago that did away with streaming should have been given more chance to work through further refinement.  

“Government should have afforded more space for creative solutions in different schools together with better conditions for an inclusive education to be strengthened,” he said, adding that panic and going for the easy solutions, such as banding, do little to bring about a more inclusive education and ultimately the well being of our children.