Eurydice is a network of 40 national units based in 37 countries of the
Erasmus+ programme. It showcases how education systems are organised in Europe
and how they work. Malta contributes to the network via an Erasmus+ project by
submitting descriptions of its national education system, studies devoted to
specific topics and statistics in the field of education, which are then
compiled into reports along with equivalent data from other European countries.
These reports may then form the basis for policy development both at a national
and European level.
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Computational
Thinking Skills among Primary Students in State Schools
Computational Thinking (CT) may be defined as a set of
skills used to solve problems efficiently, providing mental tools found in the
field of Computer Science. CT and its associated facets are intrinsically
linked to the practice of coding, which promotes problem-solving skills such as
algorithmic thinking, abstraction and debugging. In accordance with
Supplementary Budgetary Measure 4.226, i.e.:
"B’għarfien tal-importanza tal-ħsieb komputazzjonali
fis-soċjetà u l-ekonomiji kontemporanji, nintroduċu gradwalment is-suġġett
tal-coding bħala suġġett ewlieni fl-iskejjel primarji u sekondarji",
The Research Unit, in collaboration with the Directorate for
Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills, is conducting a study to assess the
Computational Thinking (CT) capacities of students between the ages of 4 and 11
in 10 schools across Malta and Gozo and primary school teachers’ aptitude
towards teaching Computational Thinking skills.
Data collection: Teacher aptitudes will be collected through
a survey at the beginning of school year 2023/24. The CT capacities of the
participating students shall be measured twice throughout school year 2023/24,
i.e. in the first and third terms. In the interim period, some classrooms will
be equipped with new interactive coding tools.
Project timeframe: May 2023-May 2025
The National
Reform Programme and Country-Specific Recommendations
The Research Unit conducts periodic research and consultation work, within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, related to the National Reform Programme (NRP) and Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs). These are both key components of the European Union's economic governance framework, designed to promote economic stability, sustainable growth, and employment across EU member states.
National Reform Programme (NRP): The NRP is a document prepared by each EU member state outlining its medium-term economic and budgetary policies, structural reforms, and measures to promote growth and employment. It is submitted annually to the European Commission. The NRP allows member states to outline their economic priorities and plans, taking into account the EU's overall goals, such as the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. The NRP covers areas like employment, innovation, education, social inclusion, and climate policies.
Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs): The CSRs are specific policy recommendations provided by the European Commission to individual member states based on an assessment of their NRP and economic performance. These recommendations are tailored to each country's situation and challenges. The CSRs cover a wide range of areas, including fiscal policy, structural reforms, labor market policies, social policies, and more. The goal is to provide targeted advice to member states to improve their economic resilience and convergence.
Overall, the NRP and CSRs play a crucial role in shaping economic policies across the EU, enhancing coordination, stability, and sustainable growth while maintaining the principles of a common economic framework.