The classics in the Maltese educational system

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the position of the Classics within the Maltese educational system, with special reference to the importance still apportioned to the Classics as an essential background for tertiary level studies. A sample of 176 undergraduates studying modern languages and literatures~ together with 15 of these students' lecturers, were selected from within the Faculties of Arts and Education at the University of Malta. Students were administered questionnaires which analysed their attitudes towards and knowledge of the Classics, as well as the extent of their involvement in activities related to the Classics, while lecturers were interviewed so as to obtain their attitudes towards the Classics in relation to the subject matter they teach. Results show that 86.67 per cent of the lecturers believe that the Classics are relevant to the material covered at university~ and that, although 86.36 per cent of the students' stated that the study of the Classics is a worthwhile activity, 87.50 per cent of these students have never studied either of the Classical languages. The same students performed poorly when their factual knowledge of the Classics was tested, achieving an overall mean score of only 0.90 out of 3.00, or 30%.