The 1988 Education Act : three years after

Abstract

Three years ago, a new Government passed a new Education Act - Act XXIV of 1988. As its 1974 predecessor, which was widely amended between 1978 and 1986, it brought together and updated all previous legislation on Education in these Islands. It also went a good deal further by introducing a number of radical reforms which were bound to change the whole face of, and thinking about, Education in Malta. Even before the Act was passed, the 1978-80 University reforms were largely dismantled. The new Act "refounded" the University of Malta: that is, it restored it to its earlier functions and prestige. The Act did away with the "worker-student scheme", altered the set-up of the University Council, re-established a number of suppressed faculties (including the Faculty of Theology which had been banished from its precincts), re-introduced research and higher degrees and opened the institution to a wide number of students. Among other things, the Act also altered the person and the functions of the Chancellor, the appointment of professors and that of the Rector which is now an elected and fixed-time post. [excerpt]