Towards a quality education for all : every teacher counts

Abstract

This comprehensive report documents a large-scale, empirically based research project commissioned by the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) to examine the operational and educational impact of the College System and its accompanying structural reforms in Maltese state schools. Initiated almost three years after the full implementation of the 10-college regional network model, the study assesses how decentralization, school networking, and related curricular changes (such as mixed-ability teaching, setting, benchmarking, and the abolition of primary-level streaming and Junior Lyceum examinations) are perceived by key stakeholders across all educational sectors. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the investigation gathered qualitative and quantitative data across four phases: an extensive review of official policy and academic literature, nine focus groups, an island-wide electronic questionnaire survey ($n = 1,474$), and 90 structured one-on-one interviews with Directors General, College Principals, Senior Management Teams (SMTs), teachers, and support staff. Key findings reveal that while a majority of educators support the broader vision of the College System, significant operational concerns persist. The report highlights heightened administrative workloads and bureaucracy, insufficient preparation and support for teaching personnel, lack of meaningful consultation, and increased workplace pressure. Furthermore, respondents expressed critical uncertainty regarding mixed-ability classrooms, the loss of individual school identities, and the impersonal nature of newly constructed large-scale secondary schools. The findings aim to directly inform future policy-making, strategic planning, and support mechanisms across the Maltese educational system.