The Secretariat for Catholic Education has participated in an Erasmus + initiative targeting policy innovation in social inclusion through Education, training and Youth- STEP4 SEAs. Drawing knowledge and experience from the other project partners from the U.K, Spain, Cyprus, Italy and the University of Malta, SFCE undertakes to continue disseminating, supporting and training educators in successful educational actions (SEAs) based on scientific evidence for academic improvement.
These successful educational actions (SEAs) were implemented at Archbishop’s Seminary, St Francis Cospicua and St Francis Msida, with St. Francis B’kara engaging with DLG this scholastic year. The SEAs implemented in these schools were Dialogic Literary Gatherings (DLG) and Interactive groups (IG). DLG encourages children to engage critically with classic and universal texts in an inclusive classroom set-up . It serves to foster and develop in learners communicative and social skills that enhance social cohesion in the groups by giving all students an opportunity to verbalise their reactions, thoughts and feelings to the text. The focus is on critical engagement and dialogue that form the basis to conflict resolution and community building. Classic texts in both Maltese and English can be provided by the Secretariat to those schools that take up SEAs.
Interactive groups include volunteers from the community, namely parents and other school collaborators. These volunteers become learners with the class and guide and support children as they work through learning activities assigned by the teacher.
A third SEA called dialogic pedagogical gathering(DPG) was implemented at SfCE with its own staff and with educators, within schools during continuous professional development. DPG is presented to newly recruited teachers during induction seminars. It is also an established methodology used during in-house CPD where scientific educational readings based on social justice educational aspects are discussed. This is in line with Pope Francis’ teaching regarding the inclusive vision for Catholic schools.
Schools that are interested in training its educators and implementing these SEAs are invited to contact the Service Manager for Curriculum Entitlement, Angela Coppini Charles.
