Muslim Students in Malta: Citizens at the Margins

Abstract

Malta is a small island at the periphery of Europe, often referred to as a bridge connecting Africa with the European continent. Discourse about multiculturalism opens a Pandora's box, albeit the very recently elected Labour Party won the election on the call of Malta Tagħna Lkoll (Malta belongs to all of us). This was the first time that political parties courted the approximately 6000 Muslims who form part of the population. This is surprising because there is usually reluctance to be associated with Muslims, especially if they hail from Arab countries. Muslims in Malta are not easily accepted, although they are tolerated. Schools generally provide a one-size-fits-all type of education, where diversity is acknowledged on paper but in practice it is often up to the individual schools to deal with diversity as they deem fit. The National Curriculum Framework and syllabi are imbued with references to Catholicism and often equate Maltese identity with being Catholic. On the whole, the hostility towards Muslims existing outside is often reflected in schools, through what Bourdieu calls symbolic violence. Very often Muslims are ignored, stereotyped, disrobed of their identity and vilified through educational practices. For such reasons, many Muslim parents choose to send their children to the only school for Muslims in Malta.