Anti-Poverty Forum Malta propose ‘radical reform’ in education, health sectors

Anti-Poverty Forum (APF) Malta has put forward a number of proposals, including “radical reforms” in education and health, aimed at “focusing on individuals in a holistic way”.

APF Malta proposed a more informal and non-formal education, putting more focus on basic and soft skills in school syllabi. “Therefore, we need a radical reform at every level of our educational system which is failing our students,” APF Malta said.

The education system has recently come under criticism for practising the 'one size fits all' principle, with major reform proposed for consultation within the education ministry.

Turning to the health sector, APF Malta vouched for free universal healthcare, saying that governments should shift their focus from infrastructure to “ideology”.

APF Malta also spoke against the privatisation of the health sector, after three local state-run hospitals were privatised year. “Whoever is involved in the health and mental health sector agrees that there should be a radical reform but not privatisation.”

Other proposals put forward by APF included the enforcement of taxation at source to create “a fairer distribution of national wealth.” Referring specifically to tax evasion, APF suggested a social fund be created, whereby money forked over from those convicted of tax evasion can be collected and used for those in need.

APF Malta said that social housing should be considered a temporary “safety net” as opposed to a lifelong government service.

“We believe in cooperative housing and the revision of the current agreements made by the housing authority to safe-guard both the tenants and the owners,” APF Malta said.

APF Malta added that governments should introduce the concept of ‘social architecture’, where housing will be socially designed to not only provide adequate units for families and individuals but to create a sense of community and services within each housing estates.

“This ‘social architecture’ must be supervised by holistic teams composed of mentors aiming to truly decrease poverty and social exclusion through this new concept.”

APF Malta also expressed support for several organisations who have recently argued for changes to income and pensions to safeguard decent living standards.

“As a forum we strive to put in the centre, those vulnerable people suffering from poverty and social exclusion. Poverty is alleviated primarily by social justice not by social services,” APF said.