Minister hints new subject will have same status as Maltese

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has indicated that the subject ‘Maltese as a foreign language’ will enjoy the same status and recognition as the proper SEC Maltese, and insisted standards would not be compromised. The idea behind this new approach to teaching Malta’s native language, he said, was to make it easier for foreign students to grasp it and to offer alternate pathways to Maltese students struggling to master it. Mr Bartolo outlined the government’s plans when the Times of Malta sought his reaction on Wednesday to the harsh criticism levelled by academics, particularly to offering Maltese as a foreign language to Maltese students. While no definite decision has been taken so far, the Education Ministry said it would launch a public consultation, including on offering the course to Maltese students with a foreign parent. Read: No, Maltese is not a foreign language - Chris Gruppetta The head of the Maltese Department at the University of Malta, Bernard Micallef, has warned that giving such an option would deal a huge blow to the country’s first official language. Concern was also expressed by renowned local author Trevor Zahra, who described the new subject as...