The perception of art in Maltese primary schools

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that the majority of children love Art and there is a number of them who enjoy it even more than others. The notion of Art in Maltese Primary schools is that many do not consider it as an important subject as those which are exam-based. As a result I feel that Art remains peripheral in the Primary Syllabus. This study was carried out to research what opportunities are being presented to the pupils by all entities in the school such as Head Teachers, Class Teachers and Art Teachers. With them I have investigated how art is perceived by the pupils and their parents and if they are being given enough experience in the subject which in its turn will prepare them to be better adults. One of the most interesting findings in this study is that Art, even if with a very slow pace, is becoming an important subject as teachers do understand its importance and the positive effects it has on the pupils.