“The work in this Ministry is built on various priorities that we are seeing moving forward in every sector of education. We are going through an important time during which we are seeing ourselves renewing our work which is the foundation of the education base. This is a Government for the People that invests in the people and to do that you have to start with those who are the present and the future of our country — our children ”. This was stated by the Minister of Education Justyne Caruana when she launched for public consultation the new National Strategy ‘Early Leaving from Education and Training’.
Minister Caruana said that in recent weeks several documents and other strategies for public consultation have been launched, which are all being put forward for our country to have a solid foundation on which to build, even in the context of the great challenges it has brought. the pandemic and how we want to move forward.
Today’s strategy is of great importance and continues to build with the first one published in 2015, with its targets applying until 2020. That is why this second policy has been designed so that while we continue to build on what has already been done, we update the work that needs to reflect the way forward to combat the effects and impact of Covid.
Although in recent years the rate of Malta has been one of the few that has dropped substantially compared to other countries of the European Union, currently the rate of Malta of those between 18 and the 24 years that have not brought 5 O-Levels in Level 1 to 7 is 16.7%, one of the highest in Europe, so we need to work harder on it.
That is why this policy has a main goal to address this national situation. The strategy is even using new terminology. Where the term ‘Early School Leavers’ used to be, we are now taking a step forward and using the new term, ‘Early Leaving from Education and Training’, ELET. This is being done because it includes both academic and vocational teaching; today we are seeing a more holistic and inclusive education and so work must be done on all possible skills. The policy is based on three pillars which are: prevention, intervention, and compensation.
They cover measures not only in the field of education but in other areas as well and therefore affect other policies and ministries, and therefore a national dimension. All measures were drawn up after consultation with various stakeholders.
In each pillar there are 5 measures to be achieved by 2030 with the aim of Malta continuing to reduce the ELET rate and continue to offer a more equitable education based on social justice.
Minister Justyne Caruana encouraged all those who have children at heart, students, to participate in the public consultation that is taking place on this strategy.
“I continue to emphasize that education is a very important key for our country to continue to move forward and be economically as well as socially strong,” concluded Minister Caruana.
Pamela Marie Spiteri, Education Officer on ELET, gave an overview of the new strategy before it was officially launched by Minister Caruana.
The document is available for public consultation on this site:
