Disaffection towards schooling : an analysis of motivating experiences

Abstract

Education is the principal means of fostering harmonious human development and of passing on cultural knowledge, beliefs, values and skills from one generation to the next. In Malta, the educational system progressed steadily throughout the ages and substantial amounts of human and technical resources were persistently invested to upgrade the educational services to match those of other European countries. Notwithstanding all this, the present system cannot claim to be working perfectly to accommodate the learning needs and styles of all students. However, after teaching for these last thirteen years in an Area Secondary School, I feel one cannot blame all the students' misachievements and disaffection on the educational system. A combination of factors and experiences are hindering students from reaching their full learning potential resulting in a serious educational and social problem. This is what initially led me to my decision to delve deeper into these motivating experiences. Therefore the main objectives of this case-study is to get better informed on the students' outlook towards their experience of schooling, to analyse the psychological, sociocultural and environmental implications that have a bearing on the students' attitude towards schooling; and to trace their participation in philanthropic/voluntary organisations with the objective that these might serve as venues for informal education. To obtain the information required, the research design was spread over five methods. These included a review of literature, which enabled me to scrutinize contributions by other authors, a pilot study, questionnaires for students, interviews for members of the teaching staff and parents, and an observational study as I carried out my daily routine at school. Finally this case study discusses implications and puts forward recommendations, plans of action and preventive strategies to elevate school disaffection once areas where help is needed are identified.