Educational development in post-colonial Malta : challenges for a Mediterranean micro-state

Abstract

This article presents a critical and evaluative account of the growth of educational provision in the small Mediterranean island of Malta. Education is defined not only in terms of its contribution to the economy, as in human capital theory, but also in terms of its facilitation of human development generally, as defined in the United Nations Development Programme. Both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the educational service are therefore addressed, and it is pointed out that the tardiness and accelerated nature of educational development in this post-colonial micro-state has led to a number of challenges. These are described and placed within the economic, political, social and cultural context that currently defines the Maltese islands.