Learning on the job

At every meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers and even during meetings for Heads of State, youth employment is regarded as a major concern. One of the more important points being discussed is the need to build a strong partnership between education and employment. In EU States, there are currently around 7.5 million unemployed youths who are not furthering their education and who are not preparing for labour market integration.

The European Commission's employment package, launched in December 2012, stresses the importance of traineeships and apprenticeships. Those countries that have established vocational training and apprenticeship schemes perform better in terms of youth employment.

Malta is no exception, and there is an even greater need to link education and employment. We must integrate work-based components in all vocational training programmes. This applies to both MCAST and university students.

I have been approached personally by several university students who believe that gaining work experience throughout their studies is indispensable for better integration into the labour market. I believe that we should strive to start a partnership between education institutions and private enterprise. We should involve the private sector in the governance and implementation of apprenticeships and divide rights and responsibilities in a clear regulatory framework.

At present, I am regularly holding meetings with employers and trade unions to study ways of introducing new apprenticeships. These meetings are meant to introduce vocational and university students to the workplace, and I must say that there is a good number of companies that are willing to cooperate. Students at MCAST, the Institute of Tourism Studies and university students would gain experience that is vital to their professional careers. Such apprenticeships and traineeships will serve to give our youth a course at the university of life, something which is not available elsewhere.

In Malta we seem to be prejudiced against student workers. Many of us believe that an intelligent son or daughter should only concentrate on his or her studies before graduation. Those young people who, as some believe, are not so academically intelligent, should either seek employment or a vocational education. This is wrong, and it is detrimental to our youths. A clear education will encourage them to think and to seek new pastures. Through education they can aspire to achieve the goals that they themselves set.

Parents too have an important role. It is most important that we realise that apprenticeships and traineeships are not an inferior way of educating our youths, but only an alternative way of guiding them in the challenges ahead.

Teachers and educators should also offer career guidance about the workplace. Our teachers must prepare youths both academically and in preparation for their future workplaces. Our teachers must be aware of the vocational training schemes, and they must be in a position to evaluate the skills of our individual students, to offer the correct guidance.

The European Union, through the European Social Fund, supports new pilot schemes as well as funding specific features in existing schemes. We need to utilise these funds to encourage reforms in Malta. Through the European Alliance for Apprenticeship we must commit to concrete action to launch and campaign for schemes that will attract more students to apprenticeships.

Traineeships can help our youths gain the practical experience they need at the workplace. Properly managed, traineeships can offer a strong learning content that our youths can use to obtain better and more-rewarding jobs.

The European Commission has advocated a public consultation on a framework for traineeships. We must find common ground with prospective employers to negotiate a partnership agreement on this subject.

In Malta, there is a strong need for a national agreement that would include all those that provide education and training, private businesses and the government. Together, we should work on a policy that will lead our youngsters to more meaningful employment. The country needs a framework to introduce educational programmes that will seek novel ideas on how to prepare our youths better before their integration into the workplace. Giving students the opportunity to learn their skills directly in their prospective field of employment, whilst still furthering their education, would be ideal.

Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education