Heritage Malta launches new educational programme for school students at the Malta Maritime Museum

Heritage Malta has announced a unique educational programme for students, including free transport, as part of the ‘An Island at the Crossroads’ exhibition currently running at the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu.

This exciting programme, offering experiences till the end of this year, is open to students from Year 7 to Year 11 and is supported by the EEA Norway Grants 2014-2021. The programme offers a captivating exploration of Malta’s strategic maritime history while promoting critical awareness of contemporary environmental challenges.

The educational programme includes two thematic workshops: the Clean Ocean Programme, which dives into the vital topic of ocean conservation through interactive experiments and compelling demonstrations, and the History Programme which focuses on the iconic Battle of Lepanto and acquaints students with Pietro Zelalich, a legendary Maltese corsair. It provides an immersive experience that combines history, environmental studies, and hands-on science.

The Clean Oceans initiative, which serves as a cornerstone of the programme, is a result of an ongoing partnership between Heritage Malta and Norway’s Stavanger Maritime Museum, funded by the EEA and Norway Grants.  The collaboration has led to cutting-edge efforts to record and preserve Malta’s maritime heritage while tackling the growing threats posed by pollution and climate change. In June, a hybrid conference titled Clean Oceans and Mapping Our Seas was held at the Malta Maritime Museum to promote public awareness and dialogue on these issues.

Vanessa Ciantar, Assistant Manager Education and Outreach Section within Heritage Malta, explained: “This exhibition and educational programme highlight how Malta’s history and its maritime environment are intertwined. By combining history with environmental science, we are providing students with a holistic understanding of our island’s past and future.”

The programme, which will run through October, November, and December of 2024, is fully integrated into Malta’s educational framework, and aims to support learning outcomes in subjects such as geography, history, and social studies. The programme is made even more accessible through free transportation provided by Heritage Malta for all participating schools.

Dr. Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, expressed his support: “This initiative not only enriches our students’ knowledge of Malta’s rich maritime history but also addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time – ocean pollution. I commend Heritage Malta for leading such innovative educational efforts.”

Dr. Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima spoke about the importance being given in schools to make education a whole which also through activities and opportunities, as announced today, goes beyond the curriculum. “Apart from the lessons of history and the importance of protecting the environment, there are several other ways in which we are fostering the love and importance of our country’s heritage. Education is the process that facilitates learning, the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, in addition to helping in the formation of the person, and also provides a good basis for everything a person encounters in everyday life,” said Minister Grima.

Minister Grima explained how in the education we give in our schools importance is also given to the maintenance of the environment – not only around us, but also that of the sea. This is done through the Eco-School programme, spread across most of our schools and also through other teaching. “But even in what we are announcing today, we are seeing an initiative that also addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time – ocean pollution. This is why I encourage students together with their educators to participate so that they are more informed about these two topics,” said Minister Clifton Grima.

The programme runs on selected dates in October, November, and December 2024. It will host up to 50 students per session, divided into two groups to experience both workshops. Educators can book sessions through the dedicated Heritage Malta school booking system: https://schoolbooking.heritagemalta.mt/malta-maritime-museum.

For more information you can visit Heritage Malta’s website and its social media pages or contact the Malta Maritime Museum.