Tuesday, 22. October 2019

Today we visited the "St. Thomas More College" for job-shadowing. At first the principal gave us some informations about the education system in Malta. He pointed the differences between the state, church and independent schools out. 

In Malta most of the students visit a state school (about 35.000). The state employ the teachers and everything is fully state funded so that the parents don´t have to pay anything. Which school the students visit is decided geographical. 

About 17.000 learners are going to church schools like the "Archbishop´s Seminary School" (see post yesterday). This schools employ their teachers themselves but the state reimburse the money for the teachers. The parents don´t have to pay but they are asked for donations. To apply for this school you have to undergo a ballot. 

8.000 learners visit indepedent schools. As in the church schools they employ their teachers themselves and pay them also. The parents have to pay a fee so the choice of the school is often also a financal consideration. 

Very different from Austria is that they hava a big supporting team. There are professionals of the following services: 

• School Psychological Services
• Prefect for Discipline
• Counselling Services
• Career Guidance Services
• Youth Work Services
• Social Work Departure
• Early Intervention Service

And at the moment the scholl tries a new project. Students can choose one of three different ways: 

1. Academic: Students choose three different subjects (e.g.: mathematics, geography etc.). This is purposed for people which want to study at university. 
2. Vocational/Applied: The scholl has equipped seven different rooms where students can try out different professions (e.g.: hospitality, retail, engineering technology etc.)
3. Academic/Applied: The students choose different subjects from one and two. 

After the informations from the headmaster we were showed around in school and were able to watch a lesson in school. There I noticed that the school is very well equipped (whiteboards, 3D-printers etc.).

Our next activity were at the Marsovin Cellars. In these cellars over 100.000 bottles and 220 oak barrels are aged. The company has five estates around Malta and Gozo were they grew their grapes. After a tour through this old cellar, which was built by the Knights of St. John, we could taste three different wines and were offerd some snacks.