The bureaucratisation of the schooling process : a study of departmental circulars (1850-1944)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyse the development of the bureaucratisation process of the Maltese educational system. Our study is based on evidence from the departmental circulars which were sent by the Education Office to the schools and which served as a mechanism for the bureaucratisation of our educational system. Our research covers the period from 1850, which marked an important stage in educational history, to 1944, the end ofLaferla's directorship. In order to put the reader in context, the first two chapters give a brief account of our educational history and of the incumbents of the Education Office. The following chapters discuss our analysis of the circulars and how these communicated the procedures of a bureaucratised system regarding school administration and curriculum matters. Our main foci were issues such as uniformity, decision-making and centralisation since these played an important role in the development of a bureaucratised system.