Lifelong learning centres

Ms Jane Micallef (The Sunday Times, December 4) was referring to a project entitled Community-based Lifelong Learning Centres that is being implemented by the Foundation for Educational Services (FES). The project is partly financed by the European Union through Structural Funds for Malta 2004-2006/European Social Fund.

Zebbug is one of the localities where a range of lifelong learning opportunities are being created around the expressed needs of residents. One of the approaches being adopted by this project is informal, non-directive outreach work in the locality. The Lifelong Learning Centre organiser regularly visits places where residents meet daily informally, like band clubs, bars, and meeting halls.

The centre organiser also holds meetings with members of local organisations like parish groups and commissions, clubs, local council sub-committees and school councils to identify learning and training needs. Courses are designed around such needs and offered at local level, as close as possible to residents' own homes.

The project is innovative in that it focuses on the learning needs of residents rather than offering a menu of centrally decided course themes.

In Zebbug, as in other localities, a range of courses are being offered. Courses requested by residents include basic computer skills, advanced computer skills, building one's self-esteem, preparing a CV, personal management skills, basic english, maltese literacy, thinking, planning and decision-making skills, communication skills including public speaking and family literacy strategies. Zebbug residents have recently requested a course in tailoring that would lead them to set up a co-operative.

Courses are held in a number of venues, making use of existing community infrastructure. The head of the Dun Karm Psaila Boys Secondary in Zebbug, Mr Robert Borg, truly believes in the mandate of the National Curriculum to transform schools into community learning centres. Many of the FES lifelong learning centre activities are based in this school.

Indeed, Mr Borg has made sure that the school's computer labs are open to the community for after school, evening and weekend courses throughout the year including the summer months. Mr Borg's leadership has already paid its dividends since many residents with no ICT skills of all ages are now following project courses in IT at the school.

Adult learners from Zebbug recently decided to combine a certificate presentation ceremony with a learning celebration event. Together, they mobilised family members and friends to contribute to the event by demonstrating a singing, dancing, drama or music talent. The inter-generational cast provided a wonderful event for the large group of learners gathered in the school hall on November 19. Ms Micallef was one of the learners present.

We understand and appreciate Ms Micallef's point of view on the dance costume worn by the Aqua Blue modern dance group of young persons from Zebbug.

This group of talented dancers performed at a girls' junior lyceum a few days later. However, we take Ms Micallef's point and shall take steps that in any future events in which we take part, people's sensibilities are respected.

As regards Ms Micallef's assertion that the lifelong learning centre organiser called her a 'puritan', this is incorrect in that it was Ms Micallef herself who described herself in this manner.

I thank Ms Micallef and a large number of young and adult learners from Zebbug who have taken the plunge and embarked on a lifelong learning journey that can lead them to access other mainstream non-formal as well as formal education and training opportunities offered by other entities.

Indeed this FES project is just a first bridge that enables learners to overcome initial inhibitions to participate in adult education courses. Once such inhibitions are overcome many learners in all the Lifelong Learning Centres are finding out what other opportunities exist to follow other pathways to learning.

We thank the state primary and secondary schools in Zebbug as well as the local council and parish for their unfailing support and active participation in this project.