Gozo VPA School aims for Successful Educational Actions

Enlarge SEAS aims to extend to new countries the network of schools implementing and sharing Successful Educational Actions (SEAS) in Europe, a network initiated by the SEAS4ALL project some years ago.

The Mikiel Anton Vassalli (MAV) College, which is a network of specialised schools for the visual and performing arts education in Malta and Gozo, is now the first Maltese state institution partner in this ambitious educational project.

College Principal Victor Galea attended an intensive ‘Kick-off meeting‘ at Barcelona University earlier this month.

“Together with the project partners, we reflected on what current research is saying about Successful Educational Actions (SEAS). This, besides the sharing of knowledge especially in parental involvement and growing the network,” said Mr Galea.

These SEAS were analysed and identified by the INCLUD-ED project (funded by the European Commission under the Sixth Framework Programme, FP6 2006-2011) as actions that increase academic results for all students, especially for those belonging to vulnerable groups, improving coexistence, family participation and social cohesion.

Soon after the kick-off meeting in Barcelona, the MAV College sent two Gozitan teachers from the MAV College Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School in Xewkija to attend the first 3-days training developed in Lisbon, Portugal.

“We were immersed in the theoretical basis and the practical development of Successful Educational Actions,” said Mr Antoine Theuma a teacher of Music Knowledge and Understanding at the VPA School in Gozo Mr Denis Mompalao, another educator for Art Drawing and Painting at same school added that, “through school/class visits we also understood the importance of quality in education through the different measures and actions proposed by the SEAS project”.

Some of the proposed actions for a successful education approaches which the Gozitan school will focus upon are the creation of Interactive Groups, Dialogic Literary Gatherings, Family Education and Educative participation of the community.

Mr Vincent Caruana, the Head of the MAV College Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School, said that his school is very enthusiastic in participating in this project so as to provide further opportunities to his staff in order to develop dialogic pedagogical training.

“We are also looking forward to host our partners from Czech Republic, Portugal, and Spain next January 2020 in Gozo. Through this training, it is envisaged that more learners and their families, will have better opportunities to live included in today’s society through the visual and performing arts education,” he added.

The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School offers a number of courses in Art, Music, Drama and Dance to over 1,100 learners on a yearly basis.

The school comprises of 8 Teachers and 24 Part Time Educators, all engaged in offering training and courses which leads up to Diploma Level (MQF Level 5) in Art, Music, Drama and Dance to learners whose age vary from 6 years old up to over 60.

Photos: MAV College Principal Mr Galea during the kick-off meeting of the SEAs Project at Barcelona University and Mr Denis Mompalao and Mr Antoine Theuma during the training in Lisbon.