Dr Charmaine Bonello is a Resident Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Malta. With a pedagogical career spanning nearly three decades, she holds both doctoral and master’s degrees from the University of Sheffield. Her research critically examines the nexus of Early Childhood Education, postcolonial theory, and children’s rights, specifically advocating for emergent pedagogies and equitable literacy practices. Active in national advocacy and policy, she co-founded and serves as Vice President of the Early Childhood Development Association of Malta (ECDAM) and sits on the board of the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. Her scholarly contributions include the monograph Boys, Early Literacy, and Children's Rights in a Postcolonial Context (Routledge, 2022) and the co-authored volume An Emergent Curriculum for the Early Years in Malta: Stories of Professional and Pedagogical Transformation (2025). She also co-edited Educational Leadership in Transition (2024) and currently serves as a co-editor for the international journal Postcolonial Directions in Education.
EPE5015 - Participatory Methods with Children: Enabling Children's Voice in Research
EPE5020 - The Professional Educator - Reflective Practice 1
LLI1001 - Introduction to Early Years' Settings: Observation and Experience
Research work in progress:
An Emergent Curriculum for the Early Years (0-7 years): Seven Case Studies in Maltese Settings (2022-2024). (Principal Investigator). Book to be published in 2024 - Authors Charmaine Bonello, Anna Baldacchino, and Carmen Dalli.
Quality Interactions (early years) - A Mother's Intentional use of Serve and Return interactions with her daughter (10 months - 2 years).
The Emergent Curriculum and project-based learning in Kindergarten: An Educator's and Parent's perspective on the experience of a four-year-old.
Edited Books (works in progress):
MRER Special Collection: Editors Carmel Borg and Charmaine Bonello Leadership in Malta's Contemporary Educational Sector: Editors Mario Cutajar and Charmaine Bonello
Involvement in projects: Collaborative research UM; ERASMUS projects; Horizon Projects
As a member of the ECPE Research Group, Faculty of Education, University of Malta - The Cov-EM study. This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on six stakeholders in Maltese Education:
University Students in Initial Teacher Education Primary Educators Early Childhood Educators Leaders in Early and Primary Education Parents in Early and Primary Education Children in Early and Primary Education (works in progress)
Reports are published and available online
SELFIE PROJECT: STEAM Educational approach The main objective of SELFIE is to improve the bilingual Primary teachers´ competencies and their trainers; moreover, to improve the science teaching and foreign language competence of Primary children. The integration of the CLIL, IBSE and EDP in Primary Education will be analysed in order to define a bilingual teacher profile, training and supporting in-service and pre-service teachers in the new methodologies and models developed for learning a second language through STEAM topics.
Horizon 2020: SCIREARLY The main objective of SCIREARLY is to determine successful policy approaches and practices based on scientific research to reduce underachievement in basic skills, including digital skills, while fostering psycho-emotional aspects and well-being, thus contributing to reducing early school leaving in Europe.
