Lessons from Malta

• In Event: Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal: Thoughts From an Educational Leadership Perspective on the UK’s Colonial Legacy

Abstract

Heath brings a unique, post-colonial perspective on system-wide educational reform to the BELMAS symposium panel at AERA 2025. His research critically examines Malta’s Learning Outcomes Framework (LOF), analysing how centralised policy structures rooted in British colonial legacy, restrict school leaders and teachers from adapting reforms effectively to their specific contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys of over 400 school leaders and teachers and in-depth interviews with 14 key stakeholders, my study uncovers how inflexible governance models undermine reform efforts, particularly within small-island, post-colonial, resource-limited settings. Aligned with the theme “Research, Remedy, and Repair,” this research addresses systemic barriers to equitable reform and advocates for policies that empower local actors and respect contextual realities. The findings highlight how educational systems shaped by historical governance models can be ‘remedied’ towards more inclusive, context-sensitive reform - insights relevant to the U.K., U.S., and other nations challenged by legacy structures that perpetuate inequality.

Author

• Heathcliff Schembri, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST)