Chantelle Portelli - Profile
Political Party: Labour
Government Position: Councilor in Mosta Local Council | Education.
Previous Job: Learning Support Educator in the Education Division.
Current Job:
Previous Projects
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Questions (Answers translated from Maltese)
You’re in charge of education here in Mosta. In your own words, can you walk us through what goes into your job and your focus right now?
Education is very close to my heart because my full-time profession is as a Learning Support Educator. I work directly with students, so I get to experience first-hand what happens in our schools, the challenges students may face, and the important work educators do every day. I feel that this experience also helps in my role within the Local Council because I can bring my everyday experience in education into the work I do for the community. My main focus is to see how the Council can support our children and young people, create more opportunities for them and strengthen the connection between schools, families and the community. For me, education isn’t only about academic results; it’s also about helping young people build confidence, develop their abilities, feel included and reach their full potential.How do you visualise Mosta (in the social aspect) in the next five years and how would you want to be involved in this?
In the next five years, I would love to see Mosta becoming even more inclusive, family-friendly and focused on our younger generations, while still keeping the strong sense of community that makes Mosta special. I would like to see more opportunities for children and young people, not only in education but also in sport, culture, creativity, life skills and community activities. As an LSE working full-time in education, I would like to bring what I learn and experience every day into my work within the Council. I also want young people to have a stronger voice. We need to listen to them and involve them because, after all, they are the future of Mosta.What do you believe are the strongest and weakest aspects of education in Mosta today, and what are your thoughts on how these can be improved?
I think one of our biggest strengths is definitely the people working in education. As an LSE myself, I see every day how much dedication teachers, LSEs and other professionals give to their students. We are also lucky to have a strong community in Mosta and many families who genuinely want the best for their children. At the same time, I think we can always do more when it comes to recognising that every child is different and every child learns differently. Not every student’s strengths can be measured through academic results. I would like to see more emphasis on inclusion, practical learning, life skills and opportunities where children can discover what they are good at. Communication between schools, parents and the community is also very important because when everyone works together, we can give children better support.Education is a responsibility shared by schools, families, and the wider community. How can the Local Council encourage greater collaboration between these groups to improve educational outcomes in Mosta?
From my experience working as an LSE, I really believe that children benefit most when their school, family and community work together.
I think the Local Council can be a bridge between these different groups. We can organise educational activities, workshops, youth projects and community events that bring students, parents, educators and organisations together.
I also think it is very important that we listen to young people themselves. Sometimes adults make decisions for young people without actually asking them what they think or what they need. If we communicate more and listen to each other, we can understand the needs of our children better and work together to give them the best opportunities possible.Have you ever worked on, or plan to work on, any initiatives aimed at improving education in Mosta, particularly in making educational environments more inclusive and welcoming for students with learning disabilities?
This is something that is especially close to me because I work full-time as a Learning Support Educator. Inclusion is part of my everyday work, so I have seen first-hand how important the right support, understanding and encouragement can be for a student, especially for children with learning disabilities or additional educational needs. I would definitely like to continue working on and supporting initiatives in Mosta that promote inclusion and equal opportunities. I would like to see more inclusive educational and recreational activities, more awareness and more collaboration between the Council, schools, families and professionals. For me, inclusion doesn’t simply mean that a child is present in a classroom or attending an activity. It means that the child actually feels welcomed, understood, respected and part of the group. That’s something I feel very strongly about, both as an LSE and in my work for the Mosta community. Every child has different abilities, but every child deserves the opportunity to participate, grow and feel that they belong.