The Education Act -
Chapter 327 of the Laws of Malta - lays down the principles underlying Malta’s
educational system and policy. The overarching aim of the Act is the education
of all generations. It establishes the structures and actors which formulate
and implement educational policy for the benefit of our children, youths and
Maltese society at large. It lays down the basic right of every Maltese citizen
to receive education and instruction, the obligations of the State to ensure
the existence and accessibility of schools and other institutions of learning,
and the rights and duties of parents in relation to their children’s education
including the right of parents to send their children to the school of their
choice. Furthermore, the Education Act establishes the principles underpinning
the Government’s role in the provision of education in Malta, the decision
making structures in this field, together with many other important issues such
as the regulation of the teaching profession and the functioning of all schools
and colleges including church schools and independent schools. All these issues
have a direct impact on the quality of our educational system and the manner in
which education is actually delivered. The Act also establishes and regulates
the University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and
other entities in the educational sector such as the National Commission for
Further and Higher Education.
The Education Act has
served our country well and much has been achieved. However, it is important to
ensure that it is kept up to date to reflect the new challenges, problems and
opportunities of today’s world. It is essential that the Act continues to
provide the operational structures required to address weaknesses and
deficiencies in the educational systems which it sets up and regulates, and to
ensure that it is fully capable of delivering Malta’s educational policy. In
particular, it is important to ensure that all the necessary legal principles
and structures are in place to implement the Malta Education Strategy for the
next ten years (2014 - 2024). This strategy will have a number of important
objectives including the following: improving the quality and effectiveness of
our country’s education, ensuring a fairer, more inclusive and more democratic
educational system, increasing the level of student achievement across all
levels, and improving the transition from early childhood to primary,
secondary, vocational and tertiary education. It will also aim at establishing
greater synergy between all institutions and departments within the Ministry
for Education and Employment, central Government and other Ministries, the
European Union and at global level, as well between education, the economy and
civil society.
DOCUMENTS
Education ActEducation Regulatory Act