Schooling in Gozo, 1870-1914

Abstract

This study is an attempt to explain the role played by the first schools in Gozo and the schooling service which moulded the social structure of Gozitan society during the years varying from 1870 to 1914. What motivated me to undertake this research was my inner curiosity to learn more about the history of education in this country, being fortunate enough to spend more than three quarters of my life in school institutions. Today I am aware of the illiteracy problem in Gozo among the older generation which reflects some of the problems which our forefathers and mothers had to face in life in these islands and abroad when they emigrated. The incentive to write on this subject was and still is my deep concern about illiterate people who very often are stigmatized by stereotyped opinions which describe them as being 'naturally incapable' of learning academic subjects. But schooling goes far beyond learning academic subjects. By learning about the minority of pupils that attended schools during the time under review, I reinforced my sympathy for those who were not fortunate enough to receive instruction, believing that behind this problem there were social circumstances rather than individual negligence or inherent incapability. It was a time characterized by hard life circumstances for many of the people. This study shows that the difficulties related to the schooling service at the time reflect the social environment and the general culture of poverty and lack of basic resources which characterised Gozitan society of the time.