Exploring values emerging from formal and informal educational facilities and their relevance to primary education

Abstract

The research explored which values and virtues are being prioritised in formal and informal educational facilities in Malta together with the methodologies that are being used to promote the formation of primary school age learners’ characters. A comparison between formal and informal education sought to provide a clearer idea regarding which values are emerging as important for Maltese society. Semistructured interviews were held with four Primary school teachers of the newly introduced curricular subject Ethics Education and four volunteer coordinators of the Primary school age homework assistance group ‘Doposcuola’ organized by the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. Interviewees were all adults and came from different backgrounds. Although the value of respect was given priority by members of both institutions, interviewees referred to a wide variety of values implying a lack of clarity as to whether each institution is promoting a set of commonly held fundamental values. Findings also suggested the need for better understanding and cooperation between formal and informal educational settings in supporting the role of parents as primary educators. Interviewees from both institutions agreed on the importance of a variety of pedagogical methods for inculcating values and virtues among primary school children, while setting a good example was prioritised in the informal context.