Paul Heywood (2023) : Staying on in Malta [book review]

Abstract

To his colossal credit, Paul Heywood makes no bones about his leanings as a citizen of the country in which he was brought up. He is a devout Christian, more specifically Roman Catholic, votes Nationalist and is a proud European. At no stage does he purport to be 'neutral', and his overall vision reflects, for the most part, these standpoints. As this anthology of writings about his personal and public life shows, he is however fair. His work in the public sector was marked by an honest-to-goodness approach which won him the admiration, especially in policy making and administration, of political friends and adversaries alike. It is fair to say that his efforts in educational administration were guided by a strong sense of the common good and making things work for students under a professed sense of social justice. This is why ministers on both sides of the dominant political spectrum trusted him as an ' old hand' in education. His life and professional trajectory is a far cry from those of persons who try to appear sanctimoniously 'neutral' when they are obviously not. Paul Heywood sought, at times creatively, to make things work for students and their families and for the country. [excerpt]