MAPSSS Council Elections 2019

The nominations for MAPSSS Council election 2019 closed on Friday 1st March. The 10 candidates below submitted their nomination. The validity of each candidature is currently being verified by the Electoral Committee. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Dr Sarah Azzopardi Ljubibratic

Hailing from Switzerland, Sarah settled in Malta 3 years ago, together with her husband and their two daughters who are currently enrolled at Santa Klara Primary School in San Giljan. Since 2017 she has been a parents/guardians’ representative within the School Council. Sarah joined MAPSSS executive committee in 2018.
Historian by trade, she obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). Her interests are mostly linked to the history of religions and integration processes. Since many years, she has taken an active part in several associations. She is currently employed with a Maltese cooperative specialising in Media and Communication.

Dr Glorianne Borg Axisa

Glorianne graduated with a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Malta, and holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Masters Degree in Geography (Melit). She completed her doctoral studies at the Institute of Education, University College London, in Intercultural Education and Geography Education. Glorianne is subject coordinator for Geography, History and Music at the University of Malta Junior College and lectures Geography at the University of Malta Junior College and Geography Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta. She contributed in the Learning Outcomes Framework at the Ministry for Education and Employment as a Local Curriculum Expert. Glorianne Borg Axisa was a founder member and president of MAPSSS from 2014 to 2019 (Maltese Association of Parents of State School Students). Glorianne has two children; one in primary and another in secondary.

Shoukran Bugra

My name is Shoukran Bugra. My 2 daughters are in St Clara College, Sliema Primary. My desire to assist in a board role is drawn from the experience I have had as a parent. I have a good relationship with other parents and I have a good insight into what most parents want. My contribution will focus on the rights of all children to have access to quality education. Since I am a stay at home parent, I believe I may donate my full-time attention to board activities.

Christine Cachia

Christine is married to Joseph and a parent of 6 year old Beatrice, who attends St Paul’s bay primary school within Maria Regina College. She graduated from the University of Malta in Environmental Health and have been working as a food and environment inspector in various parts of the island for the past 18 years. She has also furthered her studies by obtaining a Diploma in Management. In her free time, Christine loves to embroider and put her hands on different crafts.

Josianne Grech

Josianne Grech is a Computer Technician from Qormi. She has been
contributing actively in School Councils for the past 9 years. Since 2014
Josianne was an active member in MAPSSS Committee. She attended various
committee meetings on behalf of MAPSSS including the introduction of the One Tablet per Child and School Transport, and various focus group discussions.

Josianne is married to Malcolm and has two daughters Adriana and Kaya who
attend a primary and a secondary school, respectively.

Dominik Kalweit

Dominik Kalweit is father of two boys attending Zabbar Primary School. Being German, Dominik has spent the last 14 years in Malta, first studying and then working for the Maltese human and child rights’ NGO Kopin, of which he is the Vice Executive Director. With an educational background in Political Science and Sciences of Communication, since 2006, Dominik has extensively been working in both formal and informal education, focusing on global issues, sustainable development and migrant inclusion. He has a keen interest in other cultures, education, experiential learning and global politics.

Ruben Overend

Ruben Overend is 40 years old, married to Liliana and is the proud father of Antonio and Giuliana. He graduated in Communication Studies in 2001 and holds a University of Malta Certificate in Proofreading (Maltese). He worked in the journalistic field for eight years before becoming a director of Mediacoop Ltd, a worker-owned cooperative active in the media, communications, public relations, marketing, consultancy and training sectors. He served as a MAPSSS Council Member for the past three years and presently sits on the School Council of the Maria Regina College Għargħur Primary. He is also a founding member of the Malta Co-operative Federation and has social issues at heart.

Edward Scerri

I am a father of 4 children aged between 9 and 13 years who attend state primary and secondary schools in Gozo.

I am married to Christine, a primary school teacher and I am an architect and civil engineer (perit) by profession running my own office and managing my employees.

I consider the education of children in general, and Gozitan children in particular, as particularly important for the future of our country. Unless the right decisions are taken and correct investments injected when and where necessary in the education sector, our children will not be rightly sustained in their studies. I believe that parents should be heard more by those taking important decisions in the education sector because parents know best, in line with teachers, which are the difficulties encountered by students in their educational formation.

I believe in MAPSSS because it is the right forum where we, as parents, can make a difference in the education formation of our children.

Anton Vella

Anton Vella has been employed with the Ministry for Education and Employment for the past 26 years. He has served in state schools as a Mathematics, Physics and Health and Safety teacher. For the past 8 years he has worked at St Thomas More College Middle School Tarxien as an Assistant Head of School.

Currently, he forms part of the School Council at St Thomas More College Primary School Tarxien where his daughter attends.
Anton has very much at heart students’ wellbeing. He believes this is crucial for students to have a positive educational experience which supports their holistic development and leads them to become responsible and functional citizens.

Bader Zeina

Bader Zeina is 47 years old. He is a community liaison officer with the Ministry of Education and Employment and does freelance work as interpreter and culture mediator. He is married to Souha Zina and is the father of five children – two girls and three boys – all attending governmental schools: Danyah, Ahmad, Amjad, Janah and Eyed. Bader is a member of interfaith dialogue with President Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. He can communicate in three languages and is one of the founders of Malta Muslim Council. He is in charge of the Floriana praying place (Ospizu)and is a member of Mriehel secondary School Council.