An analysis of the process of financing education in Malta between 1997 and 2000

Abstract

Throughout this dissertation an investigation of the process through which public funds are channelled from Government to the classroom was made. This was mainly done through a number of personal interviews with several key officials both from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. This study focuses on the policies that were used in distributing funds between 1997 and 2000, a period in which the country was led by two different Governments. The social impacts of these policies and decisions were also analysed. In fact, an analytic review of Government expenditure on education during this period was also carried out, together with a detailed analysis of the outcome of investments made by Government. A comparison of the major findings was also made with a number of international studies, which were consulted. Among the major conclusions it was evident that this area of research within a Maltese context is still in its infancy and needs to be tackled in much more detail.