Malta has several national initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusive education. These initiatives include:
- A Policy on Inclusive Education in Schools: This policy, revised in 2022, aims to ensure that all learners have access to quality education, intervention, and support. It emphasises a whole-school approach to create conducive learning environments for all stakeholders, promoting equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
- National Education Strategy 2024-2030: This strategy focuses on inclusivity, diversity, and personalised learning. It aims to empower students, educators, and institutions to thrive in the 21st century by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Diversity education is primarily administered by educational policymaking bodies, particularly the Ministry for Education and Sports (MEYR). This ministry is responsible for all publicly funded education in Malta. Given Malta’s small size, the educational system is largely centralised, with no regional level of government.
However, there is a degree of decentralisation at the local level through the College system, which includes clusters of primary, middle, and senior schools managed by College Principals and the Council of Heads.
This structure allows for the development of projects and programs relevant to their school ethos, with the overall curriculum and funding are handled by central authorities. Diversity education is integrated into the general school curricula in Malta. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) acknowledges and values Malta’s cultural diversity, incorporating it into various subjects and learning outcomes.
This framework ensures that students learn about different cultures, histories, and traditions, promoting an inclusive and respectful environment. Additionally, the Policy on Inclusive Education in Schools emphasises a whole-school approach to creating inclusive learning environments. This policy encourages schools to develop practices that support diversity and equity, ensuring all students feel valued and included.
The main goals of diversity education programmes in Malta are multifaceted and aim to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment. The main objectives are to:
- Promote Tolerance and Respect: Encourage students to appreciate and respect differences in culture, religion, ethnicity, and other aspects of diversity;
- Foster Equality and Equity: Ensure that all students have equal access to educational opportunities and support, regardless of their background or abilities;
- Enhance Multilingualism: Support the learning of multiple languages to help students communicate effectively in a diverse society;
- Inform About World Cultures and Traditions: Educate students about various cultures, religions, and traditions to broaden their understanding and appreciation of global diversity;
- Promote Shared National Values and Identity: Strengthen a sense of national identity while recognising and celebrating the diverse backgrounds of all students.
Over the past few years there have been several initiatives by art and music schools in Malta that have aimed to introduce diverse artistic experiences and references into the general curriculum. Here are a few examples:
- Culture Pass: For several years this initiative by the Culture Directorate and Arts Council Malta (ACM) have encouraged schools to collaborate with artists on projects that integrate creative processes into the educational experience. It aims to expose students to various artistic disciplines and cultural perspectives, fostering creativity and appreciation for diverse artistic expressions;
- Arts in Schools Scheme: The Scheme forms part of the Council’s commitment to engage educators and creative practitioners in dialogue and collaboration. The aim is to encourage students and educators to engage with the creative and cultural sectors and to explore innovative pedagogical approaches for the application of the arts in schools. The scheme is also in line with ACM’s objective of advocating for a broader inclusion of creativity and the arts in education strengthening further 21st century education and skills.
- Diversity and Inclusion Projects: ACM supports projects that promote diversity and inclusion in the arts. These projects often involve showcasing the artistic works of local immigrant and national cultural minorities, providing students with a broader understanding of different cultural narratives and artistic traditions;
- Cultural and Creative Courses: Various courses offered by local art and music schools include modules on world cultures, contemporary art, and the contributions of cultural minorities. These courses aim to educate students about the rich tapestry of global artistic heritage and the importance of inclusivity in the arts.
There are several efforts in Malta to develop cultural citizenship through arts and cultural education. These initiatives aim to increase students’ knowledge of human and cultural rights, citizens’ rights and responsibilities, and understanding of different world religions and cultural influences. These include:
- Right to Culture Initiative: Led by Arts Council Malta, this initiative focuses on increasing awareness about inclusivity and supporting the implementation of cultural rights in everyday practice. It aims to ensure that everyone has the right to access, participate in, and enjoy culture, cultural heritage, and cultural expression;
- Intercultural Dialogue Projects: Arts Council Malta supports projects that promote cross-cultural understanding and the management of cultural diversity. These projects often include educational components that inform students about different world religions, cultural influences, and the importance of intercultural dialogue;
- Culturally Responsive Education: This approach uses the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and frames of reference of ethnically diverse students to make learning more appropriate and effective. It aims to create an inclusive educational environment that respects and values diversity.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to foster cultural citizenship and ensure that students are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities, as well as the diverse cultural landscape within their society.
Efforts at diversity education aim to take into consideration the rapidly changing school population. In 2022-2023 migrant students totalled 6,125, rising to 8,379 by 2024. As per National Statistics Office (NSO) data for 2023, the largest communities were Italian (719), Syrian (452), Serbian (433), British (389), Libyan (322), Ukranian (305), Bulgarian and Indian (both 280), Chinese (207) and Romanian (188). Other nationalities include Hungarian, Nigerian, Pakistani, Eritrean, Colombian and Egyptian. Between 2022-2023, there was a total of 900 Arabic speaking students, including Tunisians, Palestinians and Sudanese.
Since 2023, as noted by the Media Pluralism Monitor, civil society organisations and the public have made use of opportunities for public engagement in cultural diversity awareness and familiarity. For instance, the NGO SOS Malta offered training in cultural diversity education for voluntary organisations and pupils. The Directorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability under the Ministry of Education offers online media literacy courses.
A targeted course for senior citizens, formerly run by the Foundation for Global Human Dignity and the eSkills Malta Foundation, the latter now integrated into the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), features sessions on website credibility and fact-checking. The African Media Association Malta covers media literacy as part of its human rights workshops. However, despite the existence of these ad hoc modules, critical media use remains a minor part in most media literacy education.
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