For the first time, adults in Gozo can follow courses in literacy and numeracy, which are being coordinated by the University Gozo Centre. This will make adult education, particularly in crucial areas as literacy and numeracy, more accessible to Gozitans, who would otherwise have to travel to Malta to follow similar courses.
The courses in basic English, Maltese, reading and writing skills, and numeracy, are offered free of charge by the Ministry for Gozo, and do not carry entry requirements. Another range of courses, also offered for the first time, are agriculture-related, and range from animal health and welfare, and viticulture and wine production, to good agricultural practice, pesticide application and use, and water management.
Marion Zammit, communications coordinator within the Gozo Ministry, said that over the past two years, more than 420 adults have benefitted from around 50 Gozo-specific courses which addressed different economic areas in Gozo. The courses, co-funded by the European Social Fund (75 per cent) and the government, were being offered free-of-charge by the Gozo Ministry to persons aged 16 and over.
"Literacy courses are targeted at those who lack the basic skills of being able to read, write or do arithmetic, while the agriculture-related courses are intended for people who are either already involved in the sector or for those who are inclined to work in this area. It is a known fact that people in the agricultural sector have acquired the know-how through oral transmission and learning by doing, rather than an academic background. This course seeks to help people learn the theoretical basics," she said.
In previous years, the courses had attracted a good mix of youths and more mature students, both interested in pursuing their adult education. Ms Zammit said that although there were mixed classes in terms of age and experience, the minimum entry requirement of an Ordinary Level standard of education or equivalent meant that notwithstanding the age difference, students were more or less of the same abilities and could learn together while following the same class.
In the past two years, the ministry offered courses in e-commerce and IT, business studies, tourism-related skills, and environment planning and management. It had also worked closely with the Employment and Training Corporation (Gozo) to offer schemes to unemployed Gozo residents who wished to set up their business in Gozo, and others targeted towards small and medium-sized enterprises operating from Gozo. Other courses, offering hands-on training in arts and crafts, were offered through the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre For Arts And Crafts.
Ms Zammit said that the feedback was very positive. "There were unemployed people who found work thanks to the course they took. There were also others, including self-employed, who attended a course in crafts and tourism that helped them improve their day job. Regarding employers, it was the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) and the Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) who, through the Gozo Regional Projects Committee (GRPC) set up by the Ministry for Gozo, supported the organisation of such courses. Prior to the setting up of the GRPC, the Ministry had conducted the Special Needs Assessment Study that identified the 'special needs' of Gozo, including those relating to education, training and employment to which both the GTA and GBC had contributed strongly."
This year, with the introduction of courses in literacy and agriculture, the ministry would have offered a wide range of courses under this specific budget to the widest possible range of people, that is, ranging from those with no skills, to others who have some skills and who would like to improve them.
Yet, the aim remains the same - that of improving the employability and entrepreneurship of Gozitans, besides increasing educational opportunities.
"We did have graduates who took up a course just as much as we had people who had only been through secondary school.
"The final target is to improve the human resource base with extra educational opportunities in view of future employment," Ms Zammit said.