The Minister of Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo and Director James Calleja, Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) launched the Thematic Country Review on Apprenticeships (TCRA) for Malta at the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

In his introductory speech Minster Bartolo referred to apprenticeships as an excellent link between the world of education and the world of employment. He said that apprenticeships are learning processes ideal for learners who wish to embark at various levels of qualifications even as low as level one so that they serve as an incentive for further qualifications.

The Minister also stressed the fact that apprenticeships should be the product of solid partnerships between Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions, industry and employee representatives as well as civil society. Minister Bartolo believes that because of the size of our industries in Malta, rotating apprenticeships could be more attractive to young learners.

It is expected that this review which will be conducted by CEDEFOP will also focus on three challenges that Minister Bartolo identified which are curriculum design, how social partners could have a more active role throughout the whole learning and training process as well as how to support in education early visibility to young learners of the labour market.

In his address, CEDEFOP’s director said that the thematic country reviews on apprenticeships conducted in different countries are in support of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships as well as a tool to combat youth unemployment, create alternative learning environments in industry which would encourage lifelong learning and the acquisition of formal qualifications.

Dr Calleja emphasised that the objective of the review, which will be completed in early 2015, is to create quality apprenticeship and programmes as part of formal education and training and certified through qualifications referenced to the Malta Qualifications Framework.

The TCRA launch meeting was also addressed by Dr Tanya Sammut-Bonnici, member of CEDEFOP’s Board of Governors, Mr Richard Curmi, project co-ordinator for Malta, and CEDEFOP experts Antonio Ranieri and Ramona David Creascu who are leading the project for the European institution.

The project is led by a group of over 30 stakeholders from chambers of commerce, employers’ associations, employment agencies, European Union agencies, government funded educational institutions, trade unions and youth and students organisations.

The stakeholders group for the TCRA project includes the European Programmes Agency, Agenzija Zghazagh, Directorate of Life Long Learning, Employment and Training Corporation, General Retailers and Traders Union, Gozo Chamber of Commerce, Institute of Tourism and its student representatives, Jobs+, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and it students representatives, Malta Employers’ Association, Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, National Commission for Further and Higher Education, and the University of Malta and its student representatives.

Permalink: Thematic Country Review on Apprenticeships to be completed in 2015