While many children reunited with friends and fellow classmates, others started settling into the life of academia on entering primary or secondary schools for the first time.

The youngsters aren't the only ones who are up for a change of lifestyle as from Monday. Many teachers returned to their jobs on a full-time basis after preparing for the scholastic year ahead in the recent weeks.

On the other hand, next week its kindergarten and University students' turn to head back to their respective educational institutions for another year of learning.

Last week, Education Minister Louis Galea announced the names of the ten colleges in Malta and Gozo that will give leeway to more autonomy and flexibility.

The system was reformed through two directorates. The Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education will focus on the curriculum and its completion in class, through the surveillance of an Educational Inspectorate. On the other hand the Directorate for Educational Services will ensure that all schools will have sufficient resources for educational services to be given according to the needs of students.

The agreement between the government and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) to collaborate in reforming the education system was signed last July. The reform was to include 70 measures set to strengthen education through the efforts of students, teachers and parents alike. The agreement also catered to the needs of educators, who will be provided with profession support, more classroom resources, modern teaching tools and better allowances to carry out their duties.

The agreement is creating a new basis for early childhood education and care where all Kindergarten assistants will be required to have a Diploma as from 2010 and a Degree and warrant issued by the Council of Teachers as from 2015. The Kindergarten sector will also undergo technological reforms and computers will be introduced in classes to aid teaching.

At higher educational levels, the Counseling Services will be separated from Career Guidance, while support given to students and teachers will be strengthened through a multi-disciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, youth workers, health and safety officers and discipline prefects among others.

The agreement also sees to providing a formative assessment of students which is not based solely on their accomplishments during examinations.

As part of improving information technology in schools, all secondary school teachers are to be provided with a lap top, like their primary school counterparts. Allowances for teacher grades, including head teachers and their assistants are to be improved.

The agreement also called for persons employed with the Education Division in the grades of Instructor, or persons bearing a permanent teacher warrant, to have equal rights and opportunities as regular teachers.

The colleges are as follows:

Gozo College is made up of Għajnsielem, Għarb, Kercem, Nadur, Qala, San Lawrenz, Sannat, Victoria, Xagħra, Xewkija, Żebbuġ Primary Schools and Ninu Cremona, Gian Frangisk Aguis de Soldanis Secondary Schools.

St. Margaret College consists of the Primary Schools in Cospicua, Kalkara, Senglea, Vittoriosa, Xgħajra, Żabbar and the Lorenzo Gafa’, Giuseppe Despott, Erin Serracino Inglott Secondary Schools.

St. Benedict College is made up of Birzebbugia, Għaxaq, Gudja, Kirkop, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Żurrieq Primary Schools and the St Benedict Boys’ Secondary togther with Margaret Mortimer and Maria Goretti Secondary Schools.

St. George Preca College consists of the Floriana, Hamrun SS, Hamrun GP, Marsa, Paola, Pieta’ and Valletta primaries. The Seconday Schools within this college are Dun Guzepp Żammit Brighella, Francis X Attard, Lorenzo Manche’, Maria Assumpta and Fra Diego Bonanno.

St. Ignatius College is made up of the Luqa, Qormi San Gorg, Qormi San Bastjan, Siġġiewi, and Żebbuġ primaries and the Dun Karm Psaila, Guze’ Galea, Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Maria Regina Secondary Schools.

The Gżira, Pembroke, San Ġwann, San Ġiljan, Sliema Primary Schools and the Antonio Bosio, Sir Adrian Dingli and Sir Luigi Preziosi Secondary Schools will be named St. Claire College.

Meanwhile, the Maria Regina College is made up of the Għargħur, Mellieħa, Mosta, Naxxar and St Pauls’ Bay Primary Schools and the Naxxar Boys Secondary, Lily of the Valley and Sta. Venera Boys Secondary.

St. Nicholas College consists of the Attard, Baħrija, Dingli, Mġarr, Mtarfa, Rabat Primary Schools and the Sir Temi Zammit and Can Paul Pullicino Secondary Schools.

The Lija, Balzan, Birkirkara, Msida and St Venera Primary Schools and the Vincenzo Borg Brared, Vincenzo Bugeja, St Francis of Assisi, Sta Tereża Secondary Schools form part of the St. Theresa College.

On the other hand, St. Thomas More College is made up of the Fgura, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Tarxien, Żejtun Primaries and the Guze’ D’Amato, Paola, St Joseph, Carlo Diacono Secondaries.