The Secondary Education Certificate and Matriculation Examinations in Malta: A Case Study. INNODATA1.

This monograph presents a case study of a significant innovation in Malta: the establishment of an indigenous system of examinations at the secondary school and postsecondary levels. This is an example of a small state setting up its own end-of-cycle certification rather than using what is provided by metropolitan countries. The introductory section gives a brief overview of those features of the Maltese education systems that are the most relevant to the issue of examination, describing the methodological strategies employed in creating this account and discussing the origins and development of the present system of assessment. The second section discusses the evolution of Malta's examination system at the secondary and postsecondary levels, noting changes in the United Kingdom and their repercussions on Malta. The third section discusses the new examination system, focusing on the secondary education certificate examination and the matriculation certificate examination. The fourth section discusses organizational challenges. The fifth section examines challenges encountered (staffing partnerships, human resources, quality of staff, monitoring, local and international recognition, and financing). The sixth section examines the impact on the education system. A concluding section suggests that Malta's attempt to indigenize its secondary and postsecondary level examination system has paid off in educational terms. (Contains 35 references.) (SM)