MaltaMedia.com

Contrary to the perception given by the Malta Union of Teachers in a recent statement calling for smaller classes, the Education Directorates would like to clarify the issue of class size.

In the current scholastic year, there are 791 classes (Years 1 to 6) in state primary schools in Malta and Gozo. There are no classes where the number of students exceeds 25. In fact there are only 6 classes that have this many pupils.

About half the classes in our Primary schools (49.3%) have between 16 and 20 students (390/791) and only one in four classes (27.05%) have between 21 and 25 students (214/791).

The most common class size in the current scholastic year is 20 students (13.8%). Furthermore, a quarter of the classes in Malta and Gozo (23.64%) are made up of 15 students or less.

The Education Directorates are currently addressing the different aspects of the teaching and learning processes in our schools in their endeavour to provide quality education for all learners in differentiated classes.

This includes a national consultation process on the updated curriculum framework which is planned to take place in the current scholastic year and the ensuing revision of the syllabi which would naturally follow once the national framework is adopted at national level.