national policy direction and the power of decision-making vis-à-vis Maltese education. Paradoxically, the devolution of authority to the colleges is being accompanied by centralised systems of human resources (e.g. deployment of staff), curriculum (e.g. design and development of subject areas), assessment (e.g. benchmarking and standards), and quality assurance (i.e. external review). One can also notice shifts from one form of control to another. We are developing what Jessop (2000: 3) calls ‘metagovernance’ as central authorities undertake the difficult task of ‘steering at a distance’. Presently the existing National Minimum Curriculum, which is in the process of being revised, has reached the consultative phase. The Education Ministry’s committee with the remit of revising the curriculum has drawn up the draft of The National Curriculum Framework. In December of 2011 this draft was presented to the public and academics for feedback.