Administration and governance at local and/or institutional level

Institutions having autonomy in their ethos, identity and administration (including recruitment, entry-requirements) are listed hereunder:

State actors in the provision of childcare (0-3 years)

State provision of childcare (0-3 years) is entrusted to the Foundation for Educational Services (FES) which is a public entity within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR). Additionally, a small number of childcare centres are run by State funded public entities, these include, Jobsplus, the University of Malta, MCAST, and the Water Services Corporation.  All State childcare centres are registered with the Department of Quality Standards in Education and follow the National Standards, Early Childhood Education and Care Services (0-3 Years).

Non-State actors in the provision of childcare (0-3 years)

Non-State childcare centres (be they privately-run or run by a religious order) are regulated by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE) in line with the  National Standards, Early Childhood Education and Care Services (0-3 Years). In line with the Standards, each childcare centre is run by a Manager. Independent childcare centres have voluntarily formed the Childcare Centre Providers Association, to discuss and represent providers in matters of mutual interest.

State actors in the provision of kindergarten and compulsory education (3-16 years)

Since September 2005, all State schools in Malta form part of one of ten College Networks,  where each College Network is a body corporate with its own legal and distinct personality, although forming part of the Department for Education Services. College Networks allow for children to attend primary school in their town or village, continuing their whole compulsory education within the same college, and the same district.  Each College is led by a Head of College Network who facilitates the whole network and can take decisions concerning the schools within the College Network. The Head of College Network is appointed by the Minister responsible for Education on the basis of a definitive and renewable contract, with a selection process, following a public call.

Each school is managed by its own Head of School, the Educational and Operational Leader of the respective school’s community, responsible for ensuring a high quality and equitable educational provision which meets the diverse needs of all learners. The Head of School is supported by Assistant Heads, whose core responsibility is to assist and deputise for the Head of School by undertaking professional and administrative duties and fostering a climate of genuine collegiality amongst community members, setting the pace through active engagement in the development of a Community of Professional Educators, including through School Development Planning. The number of Assistant Heads in a school is commensurate with the school population.

Every College has a Consultative Board appointed by the Minister for Education, composed of not less than five, but not more than seven members who shall be appointed for three years, and may be reappointed for further terms. The Board has the function of supporting the College, to acquire the services and the resources required for the implementation of its functions, and to monitor that these functions are being performed.

School Heads within a College form part of the Council of Heads (COH), which is chaired by the Head of College Network. The main aim of the Council of Heads is to nurture a spirit of collegiality in the running of the College as a network of schools, while developing a common ethos and identity. This system ensures that students entrusted to the schools within the College Network receive their educational entitlement according to their potential in a full, continuous and smooth process of education. More information on this can be found in National Descriptors Article 10.1.

Within each State school a School Council is set-up, composed of parents and teachers, and a Students’ Council, as required by Chapter 605(42) of the Laws of Malta, Education Act. The councils work to improve the school environment and to make school a better place where students can be educated in a holistic manner. Members sitting on school councils are selected by regular School Council elections held every two years. The role of school councils is a consultative one to the school’s senior management team.

Non-State actors in the provision of kindergarten and compulsory education  (3-16 years)

Non-State schools must follow the National Curriculum Framework and are regulated and licensed by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE). Like State Schools, non-State schools are led by a Head of School, the Educational and Operational Leader of the respective school’s community, with the aim of ensuring a high quality and equitable educational provision which meets the diverse needs of all learners. The Head of School is supported by Assistant Heads, the core responsibility of whom is to assist and deputise for the Head of School by undertaking such professional and administrative duties and fostering a climate of genuine collegiality amongst community members, setting the pace through active engagement in the development of a Community of Professional Educators, including through School Development Planning.
Independent schools are owned and run by individuals or Foundations and receive no government funding for operations. Some independent schools voluntarily joined the Independent Schools Association, through which matters of mutual interest are discussed and presented to government.

Church schools receive government funding for operations and are supported by the Secretariat for Catholic Education in terms of administrative (including admissions), curricular and psycho-social support. The Secretariat falls under the Maltese Episcopal Conference and is also answerable to the Conference of Major Maltese Superiors. Church schools have also voluntarily formed a Church Schools Association (CSA) to offer professional and moral support to its members so that they may provide the best possible holistic Catholic education to all students who attend Church schools.
State actors in Adult Learning and Further and Higher Education

Further and higher education is regulated by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) by virtue of the Further  and  Higher Education Act.  A further and higher education institution can be licensed as one of the following:

1.    University – Provided it meets the criteria established article 47 (1) of Subsidiary Legislation 607.03.

2.    Higher Education Institution – If they deliver programmes or modules that have been formally accredited at MQF Level 5 or higher.

3.    Further Education Institution – If they deliver programmes or modules leading to a qualification pegged at MQF Levels 1 to 4.

4.    Further and Higher Education Institution – If they deliver programmes leading to qualifications pegged at Levels 1 to 8.

5.    Further Education Centre – An individual only offering foreign qualifications up to MQF Level 4.

6.    Tuition Centre – Centres which offer courses that are not mapped to the MQF.

Providers providing the following types of programmes do not require a licence by the MFHEA:

(a) short programmes  or  courses  which  lead  to  a certificate of attendance;

(b) continuous professional development programmes or courses which are regulated  by  professional accreditation bodies;

(c) any type of  programme  which  does  not  purport  to serve for obtaining a qualification classified within the Malta  Qualifications  Framework  or  a  recognised foreign qualifications framework;

(d) programmes developed and provided by a company for proprietary purposes, or provided by other bodies or entities on its behalf, and for exclusive use within that company, which proprietary purposes shall  be reflected in the name of the certificate or other type of award  obtained upon  successful  completion  of  that programme.

Additionally, as per Article 11 (3) of Legal Notice 296/2012, whilst all public further or higher education providers established by Act are deemed to have a licence,  the providers are still required to undertake provider and quality audits as established by these regulations. In May 2024, the following public institutions were regulated by the MFHEA within these parameters: 
Jobsplus, Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, Armed Forces of Malta, Institute for the Public Service, ELT Council, Academy for Disciplined Forces Malta (ADF), Mater Dei Hospital, Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, St Vincent De Paul Long Term Facility, MMA Academy for Patient Centred Excellence & Innovation in Regulatory Sciences and the Institute for Education.

Furthermore, three State-funded further and higher institutions were granted self-accrediting status, within certain limits, which gives them sole responsibility for programme quality assurance:

NonState actors in Adult Learning and Further and Higher Education

In May 2024, there were 292 independent licensed further/higher education institutions, the full list of which can be found here. All further and higher education are regulated by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) by virtue of the Further  and  Higher Education Act. A further and higher education institution can be licensed as one of the following:

1.    University – Provided it meets the criteria established article 47 (1) of Subsidiary Legislation 607.03.

2.    Higher Education Institution – If they deliver programmes or modules that have been formally accredited at MQF Level 5 or higher.

3.    Further Education Institution – If they deliver programmes or modules leading to a qualification pegged at MQF Levels 1 to 4.

4.    Further and Higher Education Institution – If they deliver programmes leading to qualifications pegged at Levels 1 to 8.

5.    Further Education Centre – An individual only offering foreign qualifications up to MQF Level 4.

6.    Tuition Centre – Centres which offer courses that are not mapped to the MQF.

Providers providing the following types of programmes do not require a licence by the MFHEA:

(a) short programmes  or  courses  which  lead  to  a certificate of attendance;

(b) continuous professional development programmes or courses which are  regulated  by  professional accreditation bodies;

(c) any type  of  programme  which  does  not  purport  to serve for obtaining a qualification classified within the Malta  Qualifications  Framework  or  a  recognised foreign qualifications framework;

(d) programmes developed and provided by a company for proprietary purposes, or provided by other bodies or entities on its behalf, and for exclusive use within that company, which proprietary purposes shall be reflected in the name of the certificate or other type of award obtained upon successful  completion  of  that programme.