Tuesday, 24th January is the International Day of Education and the Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability said that this is a day to “re-evaluate our education as well as to identify and address the issues of our education.”
In a statement the MFOPD said that the Malta 2022 Country Report states: “Due to a tight labour market and relatively poor education outcomes, shortages of workers and skills have increased in recent years………….Moreover, a large percentage of pupils fail to achieve a minimum proficiency level, and underachievement in basic skills is particularly high among disadvantaged students.”
“Various changes in our education system have taken place throughout the years, changes which directly effected students with disabilities.” The MFOPD pointed out “that these changes were never discussed with us NGOs and we were never informed about the changes.”
It added that “the NGOs learn about the situation of our education system through the parents, and this when things are not working well.”
The MFOPD stressed that “this situation is unacceptable. Throughout the years, MFOPD kept up voicing its concern about this practice and things never changed. We have a system where the student must adapt to the curriculum, instead the other way round.”
It went on to say that,notwithstanding the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) stating that: 3. “States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community.”
Many students with disabilities are coming out of our system lacking life and social development skills, it said.
MFOPD noted that students with disabilities are finishing their obligatory educational years “not yet ready for the life outside school and for employment. The institutions available where students with an intellectual impairment can continue their development are much to be desired.”
As stated in Malta’s 2022 Country Report, “Public expenditure on education is above the EU average and increased in the last decade.”
“Notwithstanding, our results are what they are,” the NGO said.
MFOPD augured that this year’s International Day of Education brings about changes. “The involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the decision-making which affects them lies at the heart of the UNCRPD, reflecting the slogan of the disability movement nothing about us without us.” it said.