The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) acknowledges Malta’s cultural diversity and values the history and traditions of its people. It acknowledges and respects individual differences of gender, colour, ethnic and social origin, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, birth, ableism, age or sexual orientation and geographical location. A curriculum that acknowledges the fact that diversity is a feature of Maltese society, as it is of nations across Europe and the world, that can contribute to national prosperity and social cohesion.
As a member state within the United Nations, Malta is a signatory to international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the International Covenenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). As a member of the European Union, Malta is legally bound by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
These instruments set out international standards and commit Malta’s government and people to democracy and to acknowledging that citizens and other residents have, and should enjoy, human rights without discrimination.
Consequently the NCF aims to help children acknowledge social justice and solidarity as key values in the development of the Maltese society and encourage young people to uphold fundamental democratic values and promote social justice.
Education for Diversity promotes an inclusive educational culture and challenges various educational processes such as decision making within schools, languages of instruction, methodologies used, learner interaction and learning resources. Education for Diversity ensures the inclusion of multiple perspectives and voices within the learning environment, provides spaces for learning about the languages, histories, traditions and cultures of non-dominant groups in a society, encourages team work and cooperative learning in multicultural, multi-ethnic and other diverse contexts, combines traditional and local knowledge and know-how with advanced science and technology and values the practice of multilingualism. In doing so, it encourages an understanding of global issues and the need for living together with different cultures and values.
