The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) in a statement on Monday is highlighting the current situation in the education system faced by students with disabilities.
It said that the National Education Strategy 2024 – 2030 is about visioning the future by Transforming Education.
However, the MFOPD said that “these last few days, the public has been inundated with negative stories of what students with disabilities and their families must endure within the education system. These are not the only stories!”
Many years ago, as one of KNPD (now called CRPD) Board members, MFOPD had asked for an evaluation of the inclusive education system in Malta.
The scope behind this request, it said, “was for the authorities to see what was working or not, where to improve and or, if need be, what to substitute and with what. MFOPD is unaware of such evaluations and follow-ups.”
The Federation stated “it is obvious that nothing happened with regards as otherwise we are not in this pitiful and painful situation.”
MFOPD added that it “cannot understand how the Ministry for Education came up with the long-term goals and how it plans to reach them, as this is what a strategy is all about, without evaluating what we have.”
It insisted that “we have a right to know why our education system failed and is failing us and our children, we have a right to know why students with disabilities are being denied good quality education.”
The Federation noted that the Education Act states that:
4.(1) It is the duty of the State –
(a) to promote education in Malta based on the values of democracy, inclusion, diversity, active citizenship, critical thinking, responsible behaviour and ethical conduct; and
(b) to ensure the existence of a system of schools and other educational institutions in Malta catering for the full development of the whole personality and overall well-being of the person including his ability to work
“This Act was not written yesterday! We should be realising good things and not, still fighting for a good quality education for our children,” the MFOPD concluded.
The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability is the national umbrella organisation for the disability sector. It is the voice of, approximately, 35,000 persons with disability in the Maltese islands. It has 41 enrolled member organisations all working within the disability sector.