News

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081005/local/malta-failing-miserably-on-childcare-facilities-eu-report/

Malta failing miserably on childcare facilities - EU report

Sunday 5th October 2008 - Ivan Camilleri

Malta is one of the worst performers in the EU when it comes to the provision of childcare facilities for pre-school aged children, according to a new report published by the European Commission.
This is probably one of the main reasons why Malta has the highest percentage in Europe of women staying at home instead of participating fully in the labour market.
Malta ranks 25th out of the 27 EU member states in the report that measures the progress made by member states to provide childcare facilities to pre-school children.
Only eight per cent of children under three were provided with public or private childcare facilities in 2006, the report says. The EU average stood at 26 per cent and only Poland and the Czech Republic performed worse than Malta.
Malta also ranked at the bottom of the table when it comes to childcare services for children aged three to mandatory school age.
Despite the fact that in 2006, a total of 57 per cent of children in this age category were attending some form of childcare facility, which also includes pre-grade school, only Poland and Lithuania performed worse than Malta in the EU. In this age group, the EU's average is much higher and stands at 84 per cent.
Back in 2002, the EU had set targets to be reached by each member state by 2010. These include the provision of child-minding facilities for at least 33 per cent of children aged up to three, and 90 per cent for children from three years to mandatory school age.
Malta has a great deal of work to do if it is to reach these targets in just two years time.
"We think that Malta has to pull its socks up and start taking these targets seriously," a Commission official told The Sunday Times.
"It is very evident that the lack of services being provided in Malta is keeping many mothers at home and this is a waste of resources. If Malta wants to increase its productivity, more females need to participate in the active labour market."
Malta has by far the lowest percentage of women working in the EU. According to the latest Eurostat figures, only 37 per cent of Maltese women between 16 and 64 had a full-time or part time job by the middle of this year. The others are all inactive taking care of the family. The average participation of women in the labour market in the EU in mid-2008 stood at 58.3 per cent.
On the other hand, Malta is faring well when it comes to male employment which at 74.2 per cent is two percentage points better than the EU average. The imbalance between male and female employment in Malta is the widest in the EU.
The EU's report on childcare facilities shows that Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Spain have the best facilities in the EU for the lower age-group (up to three years old) and have already surpassed the EU objective of a 33 per cent coverage rate.
Regarding children between three and the mandatory school age, eight member states including Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany have surpassed the set objective of a 90 per cent coverage rate.
EU Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla said that adequate and accessible childcare is crucial to allow parents to work, to strengthen gender equality and to reinforce social inclusion.
"Childcare is also a vital ingredient in facing up to demographic ageing: without proper support services, parents are less likely to have children. National governments need to address the challenge and the EU will support their efforts with €0.5bn of EU funding up until 2013 to help develop childcare facilities."

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081005/education/skolasport-starts-on-october-18/

Skolasport starts on October 18

Sunday, 5th October 2008

The 10th edition of Skolasport activities starts on October 18. The programme aims at encouraging the participation of children and teenagers in sports to increase their physical fitness and help them lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. It is organised by the Malta Sports Council and is again being sponsored by Kellogg's. Photo shows young Skolasport participants during their annual Manifestation Sports Day at Marsa sports complex.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081004/letters/an-unforgettable-experience/

An unforgettable experience

Victor Grech, Qala - Saturday, 4th October 2008

A choir of 12 children from Qala under the direction of Archpriest Joe Zammit gave an excellent performance in front of a packed Westminster Cathedral on Malta Day UK 2008. The Kor Magnificat went to London on the invitation of Fr Victor Camilleri OFC who resides in London and was in charge of the liturgical celebration.
The Qala boys and girls sang some 15 items from the Mass composed by Carmelo Zammit during the Pontifical Mass officiated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.
The young choristers oozing with confidence seized this unique opportunity to sing beautifully. An accolade of praise was heaped on them by the congregation, letters lauding them and written by English members of the congregation appeared in local papers and e-mails poured in.
The Archpriest of Qala, who sang two solos, grabbed the opportunity to meet Qala emigrants living in the UK. Over the last two years he has visited Qala residents in the US, Canada and Australia. This was an unforgettable moment which the Qala children will cherish for long. It was quite an audacious decision by Dr Zammit but it turned out to be a very enriching experience for the choir children.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081003/world-news/un-tells-britain-to-improve-child-protection/

UN tells Britain to improve child protection
Friday, 3 October, 2008 in World News

A United Nations panel called on Britain to stem persistently high rates of violence and sexual abuse against children at home and in school.
British authorities should also ensure that no one under the age of 18 is deployed to combat areas, and raise its minimum age for armed forces recruitment from 16 to 18, it said.
The UN Committee of the Rights of the Child issued its conclusions after examining the records of seven countries, including Britain, at a three-week session that ended today.
In Britain, the 18 independent experts said they remained "alarmed at the still high prevalence of violence, abuse and neglect against children, including in the home, and at the lack of a comprehensive nationwide strategy in this regard."
Mechanisms should be set up to monitor the extent of violence, sexual abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, including within the family, at school and in institutional care, it said.
Corporal punishment of children should be banned explicitly in the home as well as elsewhere, it added.
The UN body monitors compliance with the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by 193 countries including Britain. Britain has also ratified an optional protocol on children in armed conflict.
Tom Jeffery of Britain's department for children, schools and families, told the panel that authorities were committed to securing the health and wellbeing of every child in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Britain's delegation also said that new guidelines ensured that military personnel under age 18 were withdrawn from their units before deployment to areas of hostilities. No child had been deployed into such areas since July 2005, it said.
The committee said it was "concerned that children may still be potentially deployed to areas of hostilities and involved in hostilities." British forces serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Convention defines children as those aged under 18. The committee expressed concern that one in three recruits in the British regular armed forces was under 18, and that recruitment could target vulnerable ethnic minorities and poor families.
The panel also urged British authorities to fight discrimination and social stigmatisation of minority children, including Roma and migrants. Asylum-seekers under the age of 18 should only be detained as a last resort, it stressed.
Britain should also end the use of harmful devices on children, including taser guns, which the experts said police are authorised to use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
And the panel said authorities should also reconsider the use of so-called "mosquito devices," high-pitched sonic gadgets used to disperse unruly teenagers. These may violate their right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, it said.
There are an estimated 3,500 mosquito devices, which emit a piercing noise only detectable by the sharp ears of the young, in use outside shops and businesses across the country.
The experts voiced concern that six children have died in British custody since 1999. There was a "high prevalence of self-injurious behaviour" among children in custody, it said.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081003/education/healthy-children-in-healthy-europe/

Healthy Children in Healthy Europe
Friday, 3rd October 2008
For the past two years, Zejtun Primary A School together with other schools in Germany, England and Romania have been working on a Comenius Project called Healthy Children in Healthy Europe. The fourth meeting of this project was organised recently at Intorsura Buzaului in Romania.
Malta was represented by assistant head Marlene Mercieca and teacher Mariella Farrugia. The aim of the meeting was to evaluate the work carried out by the respective schools during the second year of the project during which the schools worked mainly on healthy minds.
This meeting was an enriching experience for the participants as they learned about the differences and similarities in the methodologies and school pedagogies among all participating countries.
During the visit, the head mistress of the host school Mihail Sadoveanu, Sylvia Bumbac, took the participants around the school. Among other activities the participants had the opportunity to work with the Romanian students while carrying out activities in English in the computer lab.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081003/education/gzira-primary-school-wins-ict-award/

Gzira primary school wins ICT award

Friday, 3rd October 2008

The project Rescue La Vallette: An Adventure in Time of St Clare College, Gzira Primary School, won the Young Digital Planet Award for best use of ICT at the seventh eLearning Awards.
The eLearning Awards, organised by European Schoolnet, are one of the leading competitions for schools in Europe.
The project is a game for late primary and early secondary students in which a team of young secret agents have to rescue a national hero from slavery while learning ICT skills in a fun and challenging way.
The game was the brainchild of the school's assistant head, Emmanuel Zammit. Piotr Mroz, a board member at Young Digital Planet, presented Mr Zammit with a crystal trophy and a cheque for €3,000 for his school, which he presented to the school's headmaster Joseph Micallef. Additionally, he also won a Smart classroom technology package donated by Smart Technologies. This package includes an interactive whiteboard, USB devices, Senteo interactive response system and Smart's Ideas concept-mapping software. Moreover, Strand Electronics, representing Interwrite Company, also donated a second interactive whiteboard.
An interactive whiteboard is a large interactive display that is connected to a computer and a projector. The board is mounted onto a wall or a floor stand. The projector projects the teacher's computer desktop onto the board. The teacher and students can manage this computer by means of its pens or their own fingers.
Even students in pre-school and kindergarten levels can make use of the interactive whiteboard as it can be lowered according to the students' height.
This resource replaces the traditional whiteboard since apart from writing on it; the teacher can show students educational software, video files and PowerPoint presentations.
It can be also used for digital storytelling, reinforce skills with the help of educational websites, teach vocabulary, and help with math problems.
Students can interact during the lesson and save their own work for further use. Their work can then be used to revise a topic for students who were absent for the lesson or for struggling learners. Thus this resource makes it ideal for differentiated learning.
Professor Derrick de Kerckhove, director of the McLuhan programme at the University of Toronto and president of the jury, said: "This site introduces young learners to the e-skills of the European Computer Driving Licence through an engaging storyline mixing fun and learning at the right dosage for beginners. High production values, innovative format and clever didactics make this project the best in all categories."
The game can be found online at: http://skola.gov.mt/ictsec/gamesite/scsp.html

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081002/local/chief-justice-proposes-independent-body-to-study-judicial-system/

Chief Justice proposes independent body to study judicial system
Thursday, 2nd October 2008

The Chief Justice said yesterday that an independent body should look into the judicial system, see what difficulties exist and propose remedies.
Speaking at the opening of the Forensic Year, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano said it was evident that the Commission for the Administration of Justice and the Judicial Studies Committee lacked the resources to carry out such a study.
The ceremony, held at the Law Courts in Valletta, was attended by all the judges but only six of the 17 magistrates were present.
Chief Justice De Gaetano spoke of the time it takes for cases to be heard and decided upon. A lot of progress had been registered in reducing the backlog of cases and this was mainly thanks to the big sacrifices made by the judiciary.
In the case of the Civil Courts, he said the situation with regard to the backlog was different and this for various reasons, including prolonged sickness, the absence of support staff and the volume of work.
Action also had to be taken in order to avoid summoning witnesses in court unnecessarily because their case would have been put off. "It is unacceptable that a case is put off and the witnesses called in for nothing because the defence lawyer decides at the last minute that he cannot make it to the sitting," the Chief Justice said. A system should be put in place whereby three or four days before the case is due to be heard witnesses are notified whether to attend or not.
Referring to legislation regarding what the media can and cannot publish, the Chief Justice said it was time for the old law to be changed.
There have been many complaints not just by the media but more so by the public about court orders to ban the publication of names of the accused. "I am of the opinion that if the publication of a name is banned by the court there would be sufficient procedures in place for any interested party to contest that decision," he said.
He added that the Maltese courts, especially the Magistrates' Courts, can at times be insensitive to the social implications of certain sentences. Giving examples, he highlighted cases dealing with the protection of the environment and loitering for prostitution purposes. In these and other similar cases, the punishment considered as a deterrent should prevail over other considerations, the Chief Justice said.
The president of the Chamber of Advocates, Andrew Borg Cardona, said it would be in the courts' interest to appoint an independent body to see whether things could run a little more smoothly and have cases heard and decided upon within a reasonable time.
Referring to the recent media coverage of the legal aid system, Dr Borg Cardona said that because a few lawyers threw a bad light onto the system this should not reflect badly on the others involved.
He said he felt obliged to remind members of the judiciary about the most vulnerable members of society, namely children. He knew that the members of the judiciary who handle such cases exercise great compassion but they should always keep in mind the fact that there are no games to be played with the future of children.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080928/local/kids-4-kids-charity-races/

Kids 4 Kids charity races

Sunday, 28th September 2008

This year's edition of BMW Kids 4 Kids is being held in aid of the children of Angela House in Pietà.
The children are being looked after by the Ursuline Sisters who are currently raising funds to finish a newly built gymnasium and therapy rooms.
BMW Kids 4 Kids is a charity event held yearly to raise money for children in need and organised by BMW Malta Limited and Muscats Motors Limited.
The event consists of a series of two events and a final, where children aged two, three and four years race against each other around an inflatable track on BMW Babyracers.
Their times are taken and the winner from the final round gets his very own BMW Babyracer and two flight tickets to travel to Munich to visit the BMW factory. The aim is for children to learn to support others less fortunate than themselves while having a great time.
The next events will take place on Saturday in front of the law courts in Valletta between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on October 12 at the BMW showroom, Gzira.

Source: Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080928/local/students-from-the-three-cities-perform-badly-in-exams-again/

Students from the Three Cities perform badly in exams - again

Sunday, 28th September 2008 - Claudia Calleja

Students from the Three Cities - Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa - were again among those who achieved the lowest pass rates during the junior lyceum entrance examinations.
As the lowest pass rates continued to be concentrated in the south, figures obtained from the Education Division show that this year Cospicua had the lowest pass rate with just over a quarter managing to make it, less than 2007 when 37 per cent successfully sat for the exams.
Last year Vittoriosa students had registered the poorest performance with a 27 per cent pass rate, increasing to 44 per cent this year. As for Senglea, the pass rate dropped from 40 per cent last year to 30 per cent.
This might not come as a surprise to most as it is a known fact that the area is a nucleus of social problems that are inevitably reflected in school performances.
Sociologist Carmel Borg, a specialist in curriculum studies, said poor exam performance in these areas was due to a mixture of deprivation and structural problems in the educational system. He said the area attracted people with multiple problems and low income, due to low rent rates. This scenario, coupled with "a history of structural problems in the education system", made it very difficult for children from the area to do well academically.
There is also a high turnover of teachers and headmasters in schools in the area so they do not get to integrate with the community, Dr Borg said.
A spokesman for the Education Ministry said the set of schools that made up the Santa Margerita College was working on issuing an educational strategic plan to address various aspects that ensure that the majority of students acquire basic skills in the first years of primary school. It also aims to provide support and help to children with behavioural problems.
As thousands of children started school this week the government announced the launch of a consultation document aimed primarily at exploring alternatives to the current streaming system - under which students are allocated to state junior lyceums or area secondary schools following a an entrance examination. Even though the Education Division's figures show that during the past eight years the overall pass rate in junior lyceum exams has progressively increased from 52 per cent in 2000 to 61 per cent this year, this system has long been criticised for increasing stress on young children (usually aged 11) and promoting a sense of failure.
The figures also showed that, once again, Gozitan students performed better than the Maltese on average. A total of 70 per cent of students from the sister island obtained a pass rate in (243 of 346 students passed) compared with 60 per cent in Malta (1,960 of 3,279).
The highest passes this year were registered by students from Xemxija, Lija, San Lawrenz and Xlendi. These were followed by Kercem, Iklin, Burmarrad, Munxar and Attard.
While this may be interpreted as highlighting the north-south divide, one must take note of the fact that the percentages are worked on the number of applicants and passes and that applicant numbers ranged from one student to almost 200 in different localities.
It is also important to note that not all children in localities would have sat for the junior lyceum examinations as some may attend Church or private secondary schools.

Source: The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080928/education/teachers-train-in-dyslexia-friendly-practices/

Teachers train in dyslexia-friendly practices

Sunday, 28th September 2008

Teachers Grace Camilleri and Susan Gatt have recently returned from a two-week visit in Wales where they underwent training in dyslexia-friendly practices. Mrs Camilleri and Mrs Gatt, who teach and support dyslexic pupils and students, visited various state and Church schools which form part of the Dyslexia-Friendly Schools Initiative Award in Swansea and Newport.
The aim of the visit was to observe methodologies being practised across the curriculum, in a whole classroom and school approach. Apart from multisensory teaching, the curriculum in the schools visited included philosophy for children, emotional literacy and outdoor learning.
The visit was supported by the Specific Learning Difficulties Service, a unit within the Curriculum and eLearning Department, and sponsored by the EU (LLP-LdV).
Both teachers will be disseminating the knowledge and insights gained through their visit with stakeholders in the local education scene.

Source: The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080926/local/barney-coming-to-malta/

Barney coming to Malta

Friday, 26th September 2008

Children's favourite purple, singing and dancing plush dinosaur Barney will be coming to Malta towards the end of the year as part of the Barney Live: Let's Go Tour. Curtain Raiser, through an agreement with Hit Entertainment and Premier Stage Productions, will be bringing this hit show to Malta directly from the UK.
Ten shows will take place over the festive season between December 27 and January 2. The events will be hosted in the newly-refurbished state-of-the-art theatre that formerly belonged to the General Workers' Union in Old Bakery Street, Valletta, but which is now managed by Zoo Media and Entertainment. The theatre, to be known as The City Theatre, has a seating capacity of 800.
www.cutainraiser.org

Source: The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080926/education/internet-and-dyslexia/

Internet and dyslexia
Friday, 26th September 2008 - Stephanie Psaila
The internet may be an invaluable source of information, but it is also an excellent aid to students with reading difficulties, including students with dyslexia.
Dyslexic persons typically jumble words and phrases, find difficulty in remembering things, mix the sequence of letters in words, and have poor concentration.
The internet - and certain software - helps dyslexic persons through images, text size and background colour, and by allowing them to sort out information in a way which suits them best.
Annamaria Baldacchino, mother of two dyslexic boys, and former chairman of the Dyslexia Association, says that many books are not user-friendly, and put children off reading.
"The print in books is sometimes small and does not help the dyslexic child.
"The presentation of the books, the paper used and the crammed appearance does not help children either," she explains.
Since a dyslexic person can get confused on which line he/she is on, the small print in books does not help. On the other hand, she says that the internet is easier as presentations make it helpful for children.
"With computers, you can enlarge the script for each individual. Dyslexic persons can also make use of software that reads the text to them."
Carmen Muscat, chairman of the Dyslexia Association, says that it is not only the internet that can prove helpful, but also computers in general, especially assistive technology and other add-ons that computers now offer.
"Any person can personalise the way he/she views information on the internet and on computers.
"It is very common for anyone to change the text size of the internet, or to change the contrast to ease visibility. Children with dyslexia are prone to lose concentration easily. On the other hand, persons may have different levels of difficulties.
"A text reader can be used whenever children require the intervention of another person to help them read out information. Similarly, children can use computers and a text reader to read out class notes which they would have either typed, or photocopied and scanned.
"The internet gathers vast amounts of information which can be easily bookmarked and accessed later. Children can then read just the information they require, and at their own pace. These aides, which can be used by anyone, are especially useful for dyslexic children who can be less organised. In fact, the internet can substitute volumes of physical books which can discourage children. The benefits of internet and computers have not only been tried, but tested too. A recent report in the New York Times quoted Sally Shaywitz, the author of Overcoming Dyslexia and a Yale professor, who confirmed that experts on reading difficulties suggest the web may be a better way to glean information for struggling readers.
"I think it's just more comfortable and - I hate to say easier - but it more than meets the needs of somebody who might not be a fluent reader."
Despite the benefits, Ms Muscat is concerned that not all parents are aware of the help available to their children.
"Many parents know of these aides and encourage their children to use them. In doing so, parents need to be aware of the present risks of the internet which are a threat to any child. On the other hand, some are still computer illiterate, and thus cannot witness the benefits."
Nevertheless, children are learning about computers at school, and are also learning how technology can facilitate the way they look up and read information.
Ms Muscat said the association is planning on visiting schools to give talks to heads on dyslexia. One of the issues will be the use of assistive technology to facilitate learning.

Source: The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080924/local/westin-dragonara-resort-donates-euro-3-000-to-unicef/

Westin Dragonara Resort donates €3,000 to Unicef

Wednesday, 24th September 2008

The Westin Dragonara Resort has donated €3,000 as part of the ongoing support it extends to Unicef.
All Starwood properties around the world collect funds from various campaigns to support the various projects conducted by Unicef.
The funds donated by the Westin Dragonara Resort were raised during a barbecue at the Westin Reef Club. The Resort thanked the event's sponsors: Air Malta, XFM Malta, b.right new media Ltd, 26th frame, Synergix, AV Warehouse, General Soft Drinks Ltd, Monte Kristo Vine yards Ltd. The funds collected will continue supporting Unicef's water and sanitation projects through Water For Life. Over the last 12 months Starwood and Unicef have been working together to renew and refresh the partnership to ensure that the Check Out For Children scheme continues to be exciting and meaningful to Starwood's guests and associates.
While in the past, all funds raised by Check Out For Children were used for one purpose - immunisation - from now on, each Starwood brand will support a different and distinct aspect of Unicef's life-saving work around the globe.
www.starwoodhotels.com

Source: The Times of Malta

Valletta Skolasajf activities

Sunday, 21st September 2008

The Skolasajf of the St Augustine parish of Valletta recently organised a visit by 50 children to another 'Clean up the Seas' event at the Sliema Ferries where they painted pictures related to life under the sea while the divers took part in the event. On a separate occasion the children watched a performance by the Astra Folk Group outside St John's Co-Cathedral. Photos show pupils painting pictures at the Sliema Ferries and (top) with the members of the folk group outside the cathedral.

Source: The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080901/local/boy-16-jailed-for-two-months

Boy,16, jailed for two months

Monday, 1st September 2008

A 16-year-old boy was jailed for two months today after admitting in a police statement to breaching his bail conditions and being in possession of stolen goods.
The boy, whose name cannot be published because he is a minor, had told police that he had in fact left his house outside the hours stipulated in his bail conditions. He also admitted to being in possession of stolen goods.
Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said that it was quite obvious that the boy wanted to challenge the administration of the courts and that the charges were serious.
Magistrate Scerri Herrera said that although the boy had only one conditional discharge for three years on his police record, he did not learn from his mistakes.
He was subsequently jailed for two months and fined €230.
Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.
In another case, a court heard today how a man had allegedly assaulted his wife after she refused to assist his mother who was about to be taken to hospital
John Caruana 39, from Siggiewi, pleaded not guilty to having assaulted his wife, threatening her and slightly injuring her on Saturday afternoon. Magistrate Edwina Grima heard Police Inspector Tony Cachia say that this seemed to be an isolated incident; however he added that on speaking to Mrs Caruana she told him that there had been a similar less serious incident some months back. He added that she had told him that this was the first time that it had escalated to such a degree.
Lawyer Vince Micallef told the court that it was a small argument that had been blown out of proportion, when Mrs Caruana refused to help her husband’s mother who was to be taken to hospital.
Magistrate Grima said that under no circumstances should violence be used and warned Mr Caruana that in granting him bail, it was solely up to him if he stayed out of prison or not.
Mr Caruana was subsequently granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.