Moviment Graffitti is firmly against the agreement recently signed between the Minister of Education and the Independent Schools Association (ISA). This agreement will divert more public resources for the exclusive use of private schools.
Local statistics show that the vast majority of families who send their children to private schools are among those least in need of subsidies. In addition to public resources and tax incentives, the government will also subsidise the fees paid to these schools. Private schools operate as profit-making businesses, and it is unjust for taxpayers to subsidise private profits.
By investing more in private schools, the government is acting contrary to what is needed. According to international exam results – such as PISA – children in these schools already perform much better than those in public schools, for various reasons. We feel that as long as the government fails to address these systemic issues in the educational sector, the Maltese educational system can never be fair and equitable.
Local and international research indicates that the “free choice” mentioned by Minister Clifton Grima primarily benefits privileged individuals, as families with insufficient income are automatically excluded from this choice. If even a “socialist” government does not prioritise public services over private ones, who will? Public service should be paramount and accessible to all.
An educational model that categorises children even before they step through the school door is not an inclusive model. This model is discriminatory, and the government continues to reinforce it rather than address it.
We believe that the €26 million earmarked for private education should have been invested in public schools. The government must collaborate with the best entities specialising in education to design an inclusive, fair, and dignified model for a modern society.
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Gvern li jinvesti fil-privat minflok fil-pubbliku
Il-Moviment Graffitti jinsab ferm maħsud bil-ftehim li għadu kemm ġie ffirmat bejn il-Ministru tal-Edukazzjoni u l-Independent Schools Association (ISA). Dan il-ftehim se jgħaddi miljuni kbar f’riżorsi pubbliċi għall-użu esklussiv tal-privat minflok jinvestihom fi skejjel pubbliċi.
Statistika lokali turi li l-maġġoranza kbira tal-familji li jibagħtu t-tfal tagħhom fi skejjel privati huma fost l-inqas nies li għandhom bżonn sussidji. Barra riżorsi pubbliċi u inċentivi fit-taxxi, il-gvern se jkun qed jissussidja wkoll il-miżata li tiġi mħallsa lil dawn l-iskejjel. L-iskejjel privati huma negozji bi skop ta’ qligħ u għalhekk mhuwiex ġust li l-qligħ privat jiġi ssussidjat bit-taxxi tal-poplu.
B’aktar investiment fi skejjel privati, il-gvern se jkun qiegħed jagħmel eżatt bil-kontra ta’ li hemm bżonn. Skont riżultati t’eżamijiet internazzjonali – bħall-PISA – it-tfal f’dawn l-iskejjel diġà jmorru ħafna aħjar minn dawk fi skejjel pubbliċi, għal raġunijiet varji. Inħossu li kemm-il darba l-gvern se jonqos milli jindirizza dawn il-problemi sistematiċi fis-settur edukattiv, is-sistema edukattiva Maltija ma tista’ qatt tkun ġusta u ekwitabbli.
Riċerka lokali u internazzjonali turi li “l-għażla ħielsa”, li jsemmi l-Ministru Clifton Grima, taqdi fil-biċċa l-kbira lil min huwa privileġġat, għaliex dawk il-familji li m’għandhomx biżżejjed dħul huma awtomatikament esklużi minn din l-għażla. Jekk lanqas gvern “soċjalista” ma jipprijirotizza s-servizz pubbliku fuq dak privat, min se jipprijoritizzah? Is-servizz pubbliku għandu jkun l-aqwa u għal-kulħadd.
Mudell edukattiv li jiddiskrimina bejn it-tfal sa minn qabel jirfsu l-għatba tal-iskola, mhuwiex mudell inklussiv. Dan il-mudell huwa mudell diskriminatorju li l-gvern qiegħed ikompli jsaħħaħ flok jindirizza.
Nemmnu li s-26 miljun ewro li se jingħataw lill-privat kellhom jintużaw f’investiment għall-iskejjel pubbliċi. Il-gvern għandu jaħdem mal-aqwa entitajiet li jispeċjalizzaw fl-edukazzjoni u flimkien ifasslu mudell inklussiv, ġust u denju għal soċjetà moderna.
