Work experience for Cottonera Form 4 students

Summer is still in full swing: Students are making the most of what's left of their holidays, schools are closed and teachers are enjoying their break. But for the 21 students from Lorenzo Gafà Boys' Secondary School at Fortini, a school forming part of the Cottonera College, this summer was a bit different.

The Form 4 students have just spent a month of their summer holidays on a work experience programme at the Malta Shipyards, Guttenberg Press and Vista Co-op.

Sixteen students gained experience in four different trades - bench fitting, lathe work, pipe work and sheet metal work - at the Malta Shipyards Training Centre, which also equipped them with safety clothing and equipment. The experience was so enriching that the students developed a number of projects, which were then showcased for their parents, teachers and the Education Minister.

Two other students undertook their work experience at the Guttenberg Press, and another three at the Vista Co-op, helping in the organisation of the Kidstart Summer School.

During their internship, the students were monitored by the school staff, including teachers, facilitators and technicians, who gave up some of their free time voluntarily. Two of the 40 staff members visited the students every day.

Salvina Muscat, Cottonera College coordinator, said the work experience helped students find their place in society. "Students who follow this work experience tend to become more responsible and involve themselves more actively in the learning process during the following scholastic year. Some of the students manage to improve on strengths which the school cannot cater for, such as trade skills."

Ms Muscat said that the present examination system does not certify certain talents and strengths especially if these are artistic in nature. Such students are catered for at sixth form level, such as MCAST.

She explained that in Ireland, such students follow a "second chance" programme at an early age, a trade skills course that allows them to improve their employability skills, simultaneously improving their literacy and numeric skills. After experiencing work internships, they can then still opt for higher education.

Referring to her experience with students who were most likely to be dropouts, Ms Muscat explained:

"In 1996, when I was head of Fra Diego Bonanno Girls School, I started to focus on a programme which spanned through the last scholastic year. Orientation visits to different places of work were organised during the first term; second term students experienced a shadowing experience for a whole week, during which they were attached to workers in the industry or hotels.

These industries accepted the students for a week, at the end of which they issued a certificate.

"During the third term, students applied for a job and were interviewed at school. Promising students were then referred to these places of work. Some of these students started there as summer workers, and are still working in these places today. Some of these have progressed in their career. Some entered into higher education because the place of work sponsored them into a course.

"They would have never been able to do this unless the school and these places of work worked together."

Stephen Cachia, former acting head of Lorenzo Gafà Boys' Secondary School, said the aim of the work experience was to encourage students to keep on learning and studying besides allowing them to gain first-hand experience of the work environment. This was an important learning experience which greatly motivated them and helped them develop more mature personalities.

Thanking the teachers for their care and dedication, and the staff members of the workplaces who showed tremendous patience and dedication towards the students, he said the school was aiming to cater for the different wishes of students as well as the demands presented by a rapidly changing job market.

Mr Cachia, who is now head at Guzeppi Despott Boys Junior Lyceum Verdala, said: "Students found the experience very motivating and stimulating. Whenever I visited the students they were carrying out the projects diligently and with dedication. Furthermore, a number of students with whom the school had to work constantly throughout the scholastic year to try and motivate them to keep on attending school, surprised us all in a very positive manner by participating very successfully in this project."

Mr Cachia said the aim of the month-long extra-curricular activity was also to encourage them to continue studying and finish their final year at school in a positive manner.

"Having said that, exploring the possibility of creating the opportunity for more hands-on learning experiences during the scholastic year is something which I feel would benefit these students immensely," Mr Cachia said.