The government wants to see the number of people in their early 1920s with post-secondary education qualifications go up by 17.5 per cent by 2010.
The target is among several set down in a draft national action plan for employment that was recently published for consultation.
The plan, issued under the European Employment Strategy in accordance with guidelines adopted by the European Council, maps out a number of measures to be taken in order to reach full employment, higher productivity and an inclusive labour market in six years' time.
Among the measures to be taken are those aimed at improving the levels of education and certification of the workforce.
Low levels of education among the workforce have been identified as a concern for Malta. The draft report puts the percentage without upper secondary level education at 69 per cent.
Among 20-24 year-olds, just 47.5 per cent had higher secondary qualifications in 2003, a rise of 7.5 per cent over 2000 but lower than the EU average.
The report notes that the rise in the proportion of students continuing with their studies after compulsory schooling has in large part been due to the establishment of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) in 2000, offering vocational education and training.
Still, "the rate of young persons without post-secondary education is a cause for concern", the report says.
The European target for the number of 22-year-olds with post-secondary qualifications is 85 per cent by 2010. Malta's is a more modest 65 per cent, but still a 17.5 per cent rise over the current figure.
Malta's rate of early school-leavers, defined as those not attaining post-secondary levels of education, is currently high at 48.5 per cent, a figure which has however also declined in recent years. By 2010, the government wants to reduce this rate by 10 per cent.
In line with the EU's call to promote lifelong learning and develop human capital, the government plans to achieve these targets by pursuing a "motivational strategy" aimed at encouraging students, young people and adults to continue their studies beyond compulsory education.
The measures include, for example, the National Minimum Curriculum, which lays emphasis on developing the skills and motivation for autonomous and lifelong learning.
"The government is stepping up its vigorous educational awareness campaign aimed at both parents and students to show that education is the key to a better quality of life. The national minimum curriculum is now being revised."
By next year, the Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Board will have reviewed the Secondary Education Certificate Examination. "The review should provide an incentive for more students to continue their education."
With a view to equipping "all individuals with the skills required for a modern workforce in a knowledge-based society", as the EU guidelines put it, a lot of work is also being done in the area of basic skills.
MCAST has developed a basic skills unit to provide literacy courses and is planning to expand provision to students in mainstream vocational programmes.
Literacy classes are offered to disadvantaged youth by the Education Division, the Employment Training Corporation, the local councils and the Paolo Friere Institute in Zejtun.
The Foundation for Educational Services runs family literacy programmes to combat illiteracy and runs a Community Literacy Outreach programme for families in socially disadvantaged areas. These programmes will be expanded next year.
In the area of ICT, the Education Division is planning to substantially raise the number of 16-year-olds with full ECDL certification, and will be increasing the number of computer laboratories in its secondary schools.
The promotion of lifelong learning is seen as important to permit career development and reduce skills mismatch and bottlenecks in the labour market, is being given high priority in the plan. The government wants to double the number of adults in lifelong learning, from 3.2 per cent now to seven per cent in 2010.
One of the measures to be taken is the setting up of an Adult Learning Unit within the Further Studies and Adult Education Department to advise adults on the plethora of day courses run by the department, which range from basic literacy to lower and upper secondary certification.
MCAST has introduced flexible modular learning programmes with international recognition and clear progression routes to encourage students to continue to further their vocational qualifications and to facilitate lifelong learning. "This should also lead to the introduction of an Accreditation of Prior Learning Framework to encourage adults to return to education."
The University of Malta is to establish a Lifelong Education Unit to attract more adult students, particularly those in mid-career and others seeking post-graduate education.
In another measure, the Education Division has launched e-learning secondary certification courses in core subjects and plans to further enhance the service.
The university too intends expanding its distance-learning programmes. Furthermore, MCAST is offering a number of new courses in several vocational strands with funding from the European Social Fund, aimed at training and retraining workers in various industries.
The consultation document was drawn up by a committee chaired by Louis Galea, the Minister for Education, Youth and Employment.
Written feedback is to be recieved by no later than September 24.