Art across the curriculum in Maltese primary schools

Abstract

The main aim behind this dissertation was to find out about how art is carried out in local primary schools and also to try and encourage teachers to use topic work; which is a very adequate approach when teaching children. Research was carried out through some interviews and a questionnaire distributed to teachers in various primary schools. The findings were quite contrasting but at the same time interesting because they showed the different opinions of different people about the same subject. Among the diverse aspects that contributed to the difference in opinions is obviously age; and this was well evident in the answers to the questionnaire. Yet all in all through the new ideas put forward by the National Minimum Curriculum, teachers' ideas about the integration of art within lessons seems to be changing and improving. The provision of new and adequate resources in schools is being very helpful for teachers to integrate art within other subjects and this has been very evident during the various visits I have made in schools. Teachers need to work together in order to encourage each other and try out new methods, which help them cover a more holistic curriculum.