Maltese Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, and the Education Minister, Evarist Bartolo, launched a public consultation process on a new Education Act  on 4 July 2016. The Education Regulatory Act proposes important changes to the education system, and is open for public consultation until October 17.

One of the main proposals of the Education Regulatory Act is to set up a commission for general education responsible for licencing and quality assurance of all education institutions, presently carried out by the Department for Quality and Standards in Education. All schools and educational institutions will require a licence to operate, valid for five years. Kindergarten Assistants (KGAs), teachers and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) will also need a licence to practise, which is not currently the case.

The Act also introduces measures to allow home schooling by suitably qualified educators. Parents can apply to the Commission for General Education to provide home schooling for their children and the Commission will authorise it if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Moreover, there will be a new focus on the best interest of the minor, so that issues when there is disagreement between parents and school authorities will be arbitrated by a Board for Educational Matters.

The new Education Act sets out only the main principles underpinning the Maltese education system. Further legislation will address issues such as higher education and specific aspects of governance.

Source: Maltese Eurydice Unit