[WATCH] Minister heaps praise on 'role model' student

Minister says Marica Xuereb should serve as a role model

Education minister Evarist Bartolo this morning congratulated accounting student Marica Xuereb for having recently been presented with a certificate and award from the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) after showing "outstanding performance" in a December 2016 session.

15,822 candidates sat for the exam.

"It is only fitting for us to be celebrating Marica's achievement," Bartolo said, adding that it is important for us to celebrate and support students, even more so those with the ability to excel.

He stressed that Maltese students were able to compete on an international level when given the opportunity.

The minister said that he was happy more and more students were deciding to take up accounts, and that the government, working in conjunction with private companies, was encouraging students to study for ACCA-X – a preparatory course for the ACCA diploma.

Xuereb, an assistant financial controller at GlobalCapital plc, thanked her colleagues, said that she found the exam to be particularly challenging and could not believe that she had placed first, adding that she is focused on completing her certification.

Bartolo added that Xuereb’s admission was exactly the reason she is a role model to others.

"In Malta we seem to have forgotten the connection between effort and reward," he said. "I am happy to hear Marica say that she found it difficult because some people believe that you can succeed without working very hard, as she has done."