PRESS RELEASE DATE 10-04-21 MEIA is deeply concerned that performing arts schools have not been allowed to reopen. Whereas public health remains a priority for the association and its members, lack of consultation with the industry has created considerable damage to the provision of arts education in Malta. Unlike what has been reported in the media, the provision of arts education was in line with all protocols requested by the health authorities and carries no higher risk than any other educational activity. The sustained closure of arts schools also means that students will not be able to complete the examinations required to further their studies in the arts. Schools providing arts education have been operating safely following all health protocols since July 2020 with no evidence of contagion from the schools. The confidence in arts education was built diligently by arts educators through their investments to secure the health and safety of staff, teachers and students. Whereas some online teaching may resume, the main pedagogical content requires practical and in-person training. Government’s approach to close arts schools confirms the mindset towards a sector that is an afterthought and is serving as the sacrificial lamb to appease other industries. MEIA reaffirms that arts schools have already demonstrated a strong track record of successful mitigation measures and will continue to collaborate with the Health Authorities to ensure that arts education, which must be seen as equal to any other educational activity, returns. MEIA is also expecting the Ministry for Culture to propose compensation schemes for the severe financial losses that have been registered due to the forced closure of arts schools. MEIA members in arts education will follow the direction of the Health Authorities and are committed to sustain their collaboration with the Authorities in the best interest of educators, students and their overall wellbeing. ———————————————- THE END———————————————
PRESS RELEASE DATA 10-04-21 Il-MEIA tesprimi t-tħassib serju tagħha li l-iskejjel tal-arti performattiva ma tħallewx jerġgħu jiftħu. Filwaqt li s-saħħa pubblika tibqa' prijorità għall-assoċjazzjoni u għall-membri tagħha, in-nuqqas ta' konsultazzjoni ma' l-industrija ħolqot ħsara konsiderevoli għall-provvediment ta' edukazzjoni artistika f'Malta. B'differenza għal dak li ġie rrappurtat fil-midja, l-iskejjel taledukazzjoni artistika kienu konformi mal-protokolli kollha mitluba mill-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa u ma jġorru l-ebda riskju li huwa ogħla minn kwalunkwe attività edukattiva oħra. L-għeluq tal-iskejjel tal-arti jfisser ukoll li l-istudenti mhux ser ikunu jistgħu jagħmlu l-eżamijiet meħtieġa biex ikomplu l-istudji tagħhom fl-arti. L-iskejjel li jipprovdu edukazzjoni tal-arti performattiva ilhom joperaw b'mod sikur skond il-protokolli tas-saħħa kollha minn Lulju tal-2020 mingħajr evidenza ta' kontaġju mill-iskejjel. Il-kunfidenza fl-edukazzjoni tal-arti nbniet b’mod diliġenti mill-edukaturi tal-arti permezz tal-investimenti tagħhom biex jiżguraw is-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-ħaddiema, tal-għalliema u tal-istudenti. Filwaqt li xi tagħlim onlajn jista’ jerġa' jibda, ħafna mill-kontenut pedagoġiku jeħtieġ taħriġ prattiku fil-preżenza talgħalliem. L-approċċ tal-Gvern lejn l-iskejjel tal-arti jikkonferma l-importanza sekondarja li jagħti lil dan is-settur u li qed iservi għal skopijiet ulterjuri biex jgħin setturi oħra. Il-MEIA tikkonferma li l-iskejjel tal-arti diġà wrew kif il-miżuri ta’ mitigazzjoni kienu ta ’suċċess. Lassoċjazzjoni ser tkompli tikkollabora mal-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa biex l-edukazzjoni fl-arti performattiva, li trid titqies bħala ugwali għal kwalunkwe attività edukattiva oħra, terġa’ lura. Il-MEIA qed tistenna wkoll li l-Ministeru għall-Kultura jipproponi skemi ta’ kumpens għat-telf finanzjarju li ġie rreġistrat minħabba l-għeluq tal-iskejjel tal-arti. Il-membri tal-MEIA se jsegwu d-direzzjoni tal-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa u huma impenjati li jsostnu l-kollaborazzjoni tagħhom mal-Awtoritajiet fl-aħjar interess tal-għalliema u talistudenti u għall-benesseri tagħhom. ———————————————- TMIEM———————————————