Tag Archives: NLA

The Language Policy for Junior Years for Malta and Gozo

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The Language Policy for the Junior Years in Malta and Gozo was launched on the 10th of January, 2023. The Policy follows on The Language Policy for the Early Years in Malta and Gozo. It offers a clear direction for the use of languages in the Junior Years (ages 7-11) and promotes the teaching and learning of Maltese and English, within a rich, multilingual environment. It also provides recommendations for the agency of children, parents , caregivers, teachers, school management teams, and teacher educators.

The Policy was compiled by Lara Ann Vella, Charles L. Mifsud and David Muscat on the basis of the recommendations presented by the Language Policy in Education ministerial Committee and following wider public consultation. The document can be accessed online following this link:

Language Policy for the Junior Years in Malta – 2023

For any queries please contact Dr Lara Ann Vella on lara.ann.vella@ilearn.edu.mt. For any information about professional development sessions for educators and parents on The Language Policy in the Junior Years, please contact Dr Lara Ann Vella on lara.ann.vella@ilearn.edu.mt or call on 25983328.

Reading Stars / Brillantini tal-Qari

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The National Literacy Agency(NLA)is relaunching the initiative ‘Reading Stars / Brillantini tal-Qari’ to promote a love for reading, anytime and anywhere. The aim of this campaign, which is sponsored by Merlin Library, is to present as role models children and adolescents when they read in their free time in public spaces. Schools and educators who would like to nominate Reading Stars are to ensure that parents fill in the consent form that can be found here: https://forms.office.com/e/X6QMWiLNfk

The Reading Stars will be awarded a voucher sponsored by Merlin Library and a letter of achievement by NLA personnel. This will be done when children whose parents have submitted the consent form are spotted reading by NLA personnel. Emails with photos and personal details of children will not be considered and automatically deleted in line with GDPR measures and the rules of this initiative. Further information can be found on the initiative’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/readingstarsmalta.

For further information send an email on languagepolicy.nla@ilearn.edu.mt or call on 25983328 and follow our Facebook page @readingstarsmalta for further updates and list of winners.

NWAR: An After-School Family Literacy Intervention Programme

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Nwar, a literacy after-school intervention programme for students who are encountering literacy difficulties in Maltese or English. This programme targets the acquisition of basic skills: phonological knowledge, alphabet knowledge, phonic knowledge, reading, spelling, writing and comprehension strategies. Nwar is offered twice a week in the afternoon (either between 16:00 and 17:00 or 17:00-18:00 depending on the availability), face-to-face in the following centres: San Ġwann, Rabat, Birkirkara, Hamrun (School Street), Qormi (St Sebastian), Żurrieq and St Paul’s Bay.

Only students who have difficulties with reading and spelling are eligible, therefore students who have a lack of language exposure and cannot understand and speak the language are not eligible. Applicants will be accepted only after an in-house assessment.

For more information, please consult the relevant letter circular here.

The application can also be found in the link below:

https://education.gov.mt/en/nationalliteracyagency/Pages/Programmes/Nwar-Family-Literacy.aspx

Any queries should be addressed to Ms Marika Farrugia, Senior Manager, Nwar family literacy programme: Telephone: 2598 3323; Email: marika.farrugia@ilearn.edu.mt.

Magic of Stories/Seħer l-Istejjer and Pleasure of Reading/Gost il-Qari Programmes in Schools

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During the current scholastic year 2022-2023, the National Literacy Agency is organising reading for pleasure sessions through the programmes ‘The Magic of Stories/Seħer l-Istejjer’ for Kinder to Year 2 classes and ‘Pleasure of Reading/Gost-il-Qari’ for Year 3 to Year 6 classes. At present 43 primary schools in Malta and 9 primary schools in Gozo are hosting these programmes.

Each reading session features the sharing of stories from books as well as other interactive activities animated in such a way that stimulate the children’s interest and imagination.  These stories and the corresponding activities help the children to interpret, discuss and analyse stories in a critical way.  Reading sessions are held in Maltese and in English.

Book Champion School Awards

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The Literacy and Information Support Unit within the National Literacy Agency in collaboration with the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes organised the Book Champion Schools Awards as part of the World Book Day 2022 celebrations.
Eighty-four state and non-state primary, middle and secondary schools received the Book Champion Schools Awards. Winners in each category, (Gold, Silver and Bronze) were awarded a certificate and a book voucher.

Various schools across our College have participated and received the Book Champion School Awards. These are: Baħrija, Dingli, Mġarr, Mtarfa and Rabat Primaries; and Dingli Secondary. Well done to all the participants !

Summer Opening Hours – Literacy Resource Centres in Malta and Gozo

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All educators please note that during the summer months 2022 the opening hours of the National Literacy Agency’s Literacy Resource Centres in Ħamrun, Malta, and Ta’ Sannat, Gozo centres will be as follows:

Literacy Resource Centre, ‘Ġmiel il-Qari’, Ħamrun (from16th June till 30th September 2022)
Monday to Friday: 8.30am-1.00pm
Literacy Resource Centre ‘Doris Vella’, Sannat (from 12th July till 29th September 2022)
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9.00am-12.00pm

For more information please contact Mr Mark Camilleri, Senior Manager, on
mark.camilleri.6@ilearn.edu.mt or call 2598 3317 (Ħamrun) or 2598 2089 (Ta’ Sannat).

Inrawmu t-Trabi jaqraw – Teach your Baby to Read

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L-Aġenzija Nazzjonali tal-Litteriżmu fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, l-Isport, iż-Żgħażagħ, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni qed torganizza taħditiet online għal dawk il-familji li qegħdin jistennew tarbija. F’dawn it-taħditiet jiġu diskussi suġġetti bħal kif il-ġenituri/kustodji jistgħu jgħinu lil uliedhom, saħansitra minn qabel ma jitwieldu, sabiex jiżviluppaw il-ħiliet tagħhom tal-lingwa. It-taħditiet se jsiru f’kollaborazzjoni mal-Parentcraft Services u l-familji jistgħu jagħżlu li jsegwuhom bil-Malti jew bl-Ingliż.

Continue reading →

Soul Speak – Writing, Reading and Reflection

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The National Literacy Agency, in collaboration with Spiritual Development in Schools, is organising four sessions of writing, reading and reflection in a new programme entitled ‘Soul Speak’ for primary children from Year 4 till Year 6 (8-10 year olds).

These sessions are an excellent opportunity for children to train in the Writing Process through imaginative and reflective activities which help children to pray in a creative way. Throughout these sessions, the children will be provided with resources in both English and Maltese to help them express themselves in their preferred language. Age-appropriate level in both English and Maltese is expected from applicants.

At the end of the programme, an exhibition of the childrens’ work will be organised and a celebration activity where a certificate is awarded to those who attend and participate in all four sessions.

Applications will be accepted until Friday 29th April 2022. If the activity is oversubscribed, applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

Payment should be made by cheque payable to the National Literacy Agency and should be sent together with reference to the applicant’s details as per the application link to The National Literacy Agency, National Curriculum Centre, Joseph Abela Scolaro Street, Ħamrun ĦMR 1304 by the closing date.

For further information email us on mwp.nla@ilearn.edu.mt or call Mr Samuel Galea on 2598 2997.

Artificial Intelligence in Education – Pilot Project for Schools

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The National Literacy Agency has teamed up with the Centre for Literacy of the University of Malta and the Malta Digital Innovation Agency to run a project using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education. The project: AI puppets for Literacy Education is in line with the National Strategy and Vision for AI in Malta 2030.  The main purpose of this project is to develop and promote AI in education projects with children (8 to 10 year-olds), educators and parents.

The project seeks to demonstrate what is within the realm of possibilities using AI during the Gost il-Qari/Reading for Pleasure programme.  A number of learning scenarios for the use of AI Puppets during shared reading sessions have been planned and developed.  Mini-computers called microbits and laptops are being used to demonstrate machine learning. The project, which includes language and literacy tasks and games involving speech and text recognition, is being piloted at the Hamrun GP primary school.

Read me a Book – Aqrali Ktieb

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​The National Literacy Agency has launched a virtual video library ‘Aqrali Ktieb/Read me a Book’.  The library offers a range of recorded Reading for Pleasure sessions for children aged 0 to 11 years. These sessions were produced in English and Maltese by the reading animators of the Agency.

Educators and parents may borrow up to two recorded sessions, one in Maltese and another one in English every day. These clips, which will be pro​vided free of charge, will be time-barred for a limited period of circa 3 hours.  Applicants may choose the video clips from the below catalogues. 

To borrow a video clip kindly send email to kurt.lee.azzopardi.2@ilearn.edu.mt.  Please provide the following information:  
          
Title of video clip;             
Age of child (0-3, 3-7, 7-11);​             
Date and Time for viewing (Monday to Friday 9:00, 12:30, 4:00p.m or 7:00p.m, Saturday 9:00am or 12:00pm). ​

A link and password will be provided through email by Mr Kurt Azzopardi, tel.no 2598 2997.​​​

Click on the following links in order to access the catalogues with the available books:

0-3 Aqrali Ktieb – Read me a Book Catalogue updated 05-11-2021.pdf
4-7 Aqrali Ktieb – Read me a Book Catalogue updated 05-11-2021.pdf
7-11 Aqrali Ktieb – Read me a Book Catalogue updated 05-11-2021.pdf