Early medical literature in Maltese during the XIX and XX century

Abstract

The first decades of the twentieth century found the Maltese enjoying a very low cultural maturity particularly in health matters. The reasons for this were multifactorial and were partly related to the generally low level of education and limited availability of educational material in the vernacular language. At the turn of the twentieth century, the working class population was reported to be seemingly aware of the value of education and suitable facilities for the pursuit of a comprehensive education had been made available. However because of the overpowering circumstances that the majority of the working class population had to yield to, illiteracy was still much more widely prevalent than supposed. During 1911-12, the average daily attendance in the Government Elementary and Infant Schools amounted to 15,657 students. The average daily attendance in the Secondary Schools and Lyceum amounted to only 616 students while the average daily attendance to University courses amounted to 138 students. The figures suggest that only about 4-5% of children attending primary education completed their studies and progressed to a Secondary level. The Maltese language was taught in the primary classes, but English and Italian reading was only commenced at Standard Ill, when many of the children would have already been withdrawn from the educational system.