Cap. 605 Art. 12Functions of the Division of Education.     Cap. 606.

(1) The functions of the Division of Education shall include the following:

(a) to implement any matter required to achieve the objectives and execute the duties of the State under articles 4 and 5, under the general direction of the Minister;

(b) to ensure that all children of a compulsory school age are registered and duly attending school;

(c) to regulate, establish, monitor and assure standards and quality in the programmes and educational services provided by schools in Malta, whether State schools or not; and

(d) to ensure the effective and efficient operation and delivery of services to State schools within an established framework of decentralisation and autonomy.

(2) In particular the Division of Education shall:

(a) generally regulate, guide, evaluate, verify, research and report on the various elements and the results of the pre-compulsory and compulsory education system with the aim of assuring quality and equitable education for all and in order to promote good practices in all activities related to such education in a national curricular framework of lifelong learning;

(b) establish and periodically review standards and policies in full respect of the character, identity and autonomy of each school;

(c) periodically review the National Curriculum Framework and propose to the Minister any necessary changes thereto;

(d) provide the required guidelines, among other things, for the better implementation of the education policy and services, including each school’s development plan, the syllabi, the establishment of standards, performance assessment, and examinations;

(e) perform external reviews in complement to the internal review so as to provide guidance, monitoring, inspection, evaluation and reporting on educational leadership, the process of teaching and learning, the application of the curriculum, student well-being, learning and assessment programmes or syllabi, pedagogy, assessment and examinations in full respect of the character, identity and autonomy of the school;

(f) be responsible for the compliance with and implementation of the provisions of laws and regulations dealing with matters relating to education;

(g) receive and process applications for the issuing of a licence for the opening of childcare centre and, or a school;

(h) ensure that the national minimum conditions for all schools are being constantly observed and investigate and take all necessary steps required on any matter about which the relevant department may consider the suspension or the withdrawal of a school licence, and take decisions concerning the suspension or the withdrawal of a school licence;

(i) receive, consider and decide upon applications of parents who wish to provide home education to their children by a duly warranted teacher, which warrant shall have been issued under article 11 of the Teaching and Allied Professions Act in lieu of education provided by a school;

(j) impose any such conditions as it may deem reasonable and appropriate when acceding to such applications as referred to in paragraph (i);

(k) monitor all authorised home education programs and ensure that the quality of education offered in such programmes is of an adequate standard;

(l) ensure that all conditions imposed as referred to in paragraph (j) are being adhered to;

(m) authorize any such person in possession of the necessary qualifications to act as home educator;

(n) provide guidelines for the proper implementation of home education programmes and the procedures to be followed;

(o) regulate, as it deems appropriate, the use of sports facilities, laboratories, workshops and other ancillary facilities of school complexes and colleges as may be offered to home schooled students;

(p) provide accreditation for education until compulsory school age up to level three (3) of the Malta Qualifications Framework;

(q) ensure that all information, data and statistics required for the drafting, the planning and the implementation of policy, strategies, guidelines and directives in education are researched, collated, compiled, and analysed, and, subject to any other law, take all necessary steps so that these may be accessible to whosoever is involved and who may have an interest;

(r) plan, provide and allocate the resources, human and otherwise, services, and learning tools, both of a pedagogical, psychosocial, managerial and operative nature and other ancillary support tools, as required in State schools and State educational institutions;

(s) promote, encourage and monitor the democratic governance of schools through School Councils with the active participation of parents, educators and students;

(t) promote, support, coordinate and ensure lifelong learning services and initiatives, including educational and cultural initiatives within the community, e-learning and distance learning, adult education, evening classes and other initiatives relating to complementary education and services for persons having specific learning difficulties;

(u) provide the resources required for inclusive and special educational programmes and for other schemes related to individual educational needs;

(v) ensure the supply and the coordination of vocational and career guidance services, including the implementation of programmes with the social partners and civil society aimed at achieving improved school-workplace congruence and assist in the transition stages, including those from school to work;

(w) ensure the provision of services required to generate a culture of respect for all and to deal effectively with issues of good conduct and discipline, of child abuse, of bullying and of substance abuse;

(x) promote the physical and mental health of students through health information and promotion, medical screening services and healthy lifestyle programmes;

(y) administer State aid to non-State schools;

(z) sustain an effective dialogue with whosoever is involved in the educational system and aim for the widest consensus possible about any matter which may be relevant to education;

(aa) cooperate with local and foreign institutions, and encourage and facilitate a better participation in programmes, scholarships, and the international exchange of students and personnel, particularly in the institutions and programmes of the European Union;

(ab) prepare any required guidelines, statistics, or strategy as may be required by the Minister for the better implementation of education policy and provision of educational services;

(ac) generally give advice to the Minister on any matter relating to education and perform any other function that the Minister may from time to time assign to the Division;

(ad) implement any matter required for the proper execution of any provision of this Act; and

(ae) carry out any other function as may be necessary for the attainment of the objectives and the fulfilment of the duties pertaining to the State as provided for by this Act.