Partito Anti-Riformista

Partito Anti-Riformista is set up

It was Fortunato Mizzi who in the 1880s set up the Partito Anti-Riformista, with the intention of putting a stop to the changes proposed by Keenan and Savona in 1878. Mizzi and his followers claimed that these propositions were passed so as to safeguard the interests of the British Government in Malta. Most of the support for this party came from the upper-class, the clergy, pro-Italians and most landowners and professionals for example doctors and lawyers.

Fortunato Mizzi 

Royal Commission of 1878 part 2

The Royal Commission of 1878 would receive a storm of protest, mainly because Italian was to be removed from the Curriculum and could only be used in Theology lectures in University. Take a look at the following views of Keenan by Herbert Ganado, a modern historian. Do you agree with him or not? Why?

Herbert Ganado a modern historian, looks at Keenan's proposals  said that “Keenan’s wish, it is perfectly clear, was to destroy Italian, to have English alone taught, to turn upside down our cultural system, and to force us to throw out the window the cultural traditions of entire centuries.”

Herbert Ganado

1) What kind of source is this?

2) Herbert Ganado claimed that Keenan wished to completely destroy Italian and "to turn upside down our cultural system". Do you agree? 

3) Why would it benefit Great Britain to remove the Italian culture which existed in Malta? 

4) Do you think Keenan was impartial (fair, not biased) in his observations of Maltese schools? 

Canon Paolo Pullicino

Canon Paolo Pullicino was determined to reform Malta's Primary Education system. Using his influence with the Church he tried to convince parents to send their children to school. In his time Primary Education started to extend to the masses, and he helped with the opening of schools all around Malta. He is also responsible for the establishment of the Education Department.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry of 1836

The Royal Commission of Inquiry discovered some very worrying facts about education in Malta. They only found three public schools. It was clear that they needed to invest more money both on teacher's pay, as well as on new schools and maintenance.

The system at this time involved all students first learning to read and write in Maltese. Once completed, they would then move on to Italian, and finally English would be studied depending on whether time and resources were available. It would be Canon Francesco Panzavecchia who would work tirelessly to try and revive the scheme. The Royal Commission also saw to the setting up of a freedom of press. This led to around eight Italian-language newspapers be produced. The vast majority of the newspapers in those days would be in Italian. 

Fortunato Panzavecchia, who was appointed inspector of schools in 1840 

What is Freedom of Press and why do you think is it important for a democratic country to have? 

Why was Italian such an important subject back in 1836? 

 

Malta as a British Protectorate

The arrival of Napoleon in Malta

 

 

 

 

 

General Bonaparte takes over Malta

Rear-Admiral Alexander John Ball, who was appointed Civil Commissioner

A Caricature portraying the Treaty of Amiens