Country could face ‘skills crisis’ if stakeholders don’t act now - Bartolo

Despite various educational reforms and a 100% rate of children who start attending child care centres at an early age, something is missing in Malta's educational system: by age 10, 45% of the students score lower than the intermediate international benchmark in reading literacy; just 22% of the youths further their studies at university; boys are falling behind in all subjects.

The result of these worrying figures is that a substantial amount of youths are not employable as they do not have the necessary skills required by today's work market. As employers complain they cannot find workers with the required skills, workers complain they cannot find jobs. Figures, in fact, show that 1,000 of 5,800 unemployed youths aged between 15 and 24 have been registering for a year. The result? At such an early stage, these youth have already fallen in a culture that is dependent on benefits.

Addressing a meeting of the MCESD on the launch of the framework for the education strategy, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said the country could not afford to wait any longer to address the mismatch of skills between what the sectors require and what the education system was producing.

"We have a lot or work to do to enrich this document during these three months. The real test will be to change the reality we are living. Economic growth will be there, but if we fail to address the crisis of skills, things will become harder," he said, adding it would then be useless to talk about poverty rates.

Social dialogue minister Helena a Dalli pointed out that MCESD members always highlighted the link between national development and education, with the latter being key to the country's competitiveness.

"Our education system needs to cater for employment requirements. Moreover, our strategy must be one that teaches children about diversity, equality and rights," she said.

EU statistics show that Malta has a high rate of unskilled youths aged 29 and lower. The Education Minister said the country had to develop a 10-year strategy that focused on developing skills and talents, helping students to have strong literacy levels and preparing them for entrepreneurship opportunities.

"We have to develop work ethics... Teach them that to earn money, you have to work," he said.

Bartolo added that the reality was that half of the employment being generated was being taken by foreigners, left vacant because of lack of skills or refusal to work on the part of the Maltese.

The onus was not only on primary and secondary schools - with some state schools registering substantial difference between one and the other - but also on post-secondary schools and the University.

"Do the curricula make students employable? And why do graduating students end up underemployed? Our education and work systems have to meet each other halfway."

Frank Fabri, director of curriculum and research, said the strategy aligned all sectoral education strategies and policies. It has four broad but measurable targets in line with European and world benchmarks and that will set the education agenda in Malta for the next decade:
 
-          reduce the gaps in educational outcomes, decrease the number of low achievers and raise the bar in literacy, numeracy, and science and technology competence;
-          support educational achievement of children at-risk-of-poverty and from low socio-economic status, and reduce the relatively high incidence of early school-leavers;
-          raise levels of student retainment and attainment in further, vocational, and tertiary education and training; and
-          increase participation in lifelong learning and adult learning.
 
In close collaboration between the educational, economic sectors and civil society, the Ministry for Education and Employment is facilitating a consultation process from the 22 February until the 31 May 2014 about an updated educational plan for Malta focused on the four main targets. This consultation process will form the basis for the process of improvement from 2014 to 2024 during which time our students develop their personal and social potential and acquire the appropriate knowledge, key skills, competences and attitudes through a value-oriented formation including equity, social justice, diversity, and inclusivity.

The Framework for the Education Strategy for Malta: 2014-2024 can be downloaded from www.education.gov.mt/strategy and feedback could be sent by email on [email protected]