Restructuring schools in Malta: the road to improvement

Examines a process of how schools and their members can develop the capacity to reflect on the nature and purpose of their work together. The focus is on school-site management practices as the way forward to improve the quality of education being provided. Argues that for schools to function better, a professional culture which offers choice, authority and responsibility through more decision-making powers and a participative structure at school level needs to be nurtured. Proposes that a combination of top-down and bottom-up strategies to improvement needs to be encouraged as against purely a top-down or bottom-up approach. Also proposes a framework for professional development at school-site level.