Minister for Education Justyne Caruana has made three visits to schools in Gozo, namely the primary schools of Qala, Nadur and Zebbug.

Dr Caruana explained that the visit to Zebbug Primary School was a significant one, because after a four-year journey characterised by training, dedication and work, this school in Gozo was awarded the merit of being called a `Dyslexia Friendly School.’

This merit has also been made possible by the support of the SpLD service, which has helped teachers embrace dyslexia-related strategies, including multisensory learning, differentiated learning, study-facilitating strategies and student memory, such as the method Look, Say, Cover and Check highlighting and colour-coding.

The love for reading has been strengthened among all students through initiatives such as Drop Everything and Read and with the help of the Reading Ruler. Through these strategies every student in the school has benefited, but especially the students who have this condition.

“This is the path we want to see in the education system, that every student is included and no one is left out in the educational walk that is so important to each and every one of them,” said Minister Caruana.

During her visits to the three schools Minister Caruana was able to see at first hand the work of educators and LSEs, as well as discuss their work and needs.

“This is a principle that I strongly believe in,” said Minister Caruana, “which is to have direct contact with all those who work in this sector, at the forefront with educators and LSEs, that with so much dedication are looking to advance education with our children.”

The visits to Qala and Nadur primary schools were also held to mark the occasion of a day commemorated by the United Nations on the 5th of December – World Soil Day.

These two schools are participants in the EkoSkola programme, an initiative run locally by Nature Trust – FEE Malta, and which is an international programme for all schools, helping them towards education for sustainable development.

Minister Caruana, while praising such initiatives, said they provide an educational sphere that increases awareness of the importance of the environment.

She also said that the Ministry must continue to ensure that students are given more and more possibilities to broaden their knowledge beyond traditional education, thus stimulating a broader knowledge on the subjects.

The Minister for Education took the opportunity to speak directly to the students. While wishing them well in their studies, she told the students that they are a very important part of the education system and therefore their opinion is very valuable to her.

“I would like you to convey to me your ideas, opinions and even your criticism of everything you want, so that together we will not only improve, but we will be fully participating for your own good,” said Minister Caruana.

In her visits to each school, Minister Justyne Caruana was accompanied by the respective Heads of schools.

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