Bartolo bemoans lack of interest in Youth Guarantee Scheme

Education minister Evarist Bartolo today expressed his disappointment at the lack of interest in the Youth Guarantee Scheme.

While welcoming the high level of SEC revision classes being held at MCAST, Bartolo said that despite issuing up to 7,000 invites to early school leavers for skills courses only 400 signed up.

Expressing his disappointment at the lack of interest, Bartolo warned that the greatest challenge is not youth unemployment but the number of youths lacking basic skills.

On the other hand, Bartolo expressed his satisfaction at the level of interest shown in the revision courses in four core subjects – Maltese, English, Maths and Physics. The courses are being offered for free as part of the scheme.

He explained that 1,373 students applied for the SEC revision classes and the attendance rate stood at 68%. However the number of applications represents 60% of students who failed their O level exams.