Malta has a good labour force which, however, lacks the courage to venture out and be creative in an entrepreneurial way, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech argued this morning.

He told a conference on entrepreneurship in education that the need for entrepreneurship education in schools was being increasingly felt.

The education system had to date placed too much emphasis on knowledge skills and there was insufficient appreciation of the softer skills, particularly creativity, he said.

The current reform in the education system, however, was addressing this need.

Mr Fenech said it was important to guide students to be creative, to think of something and make it happen. Entrepreneurship should be a key competence in schooling and should include putting together a business plan and seeing it through.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina agreed with Mr Fenech and said entrepreneurship education was about acquiring entrepreneurial skills and and attitudes in all sectors of employment and activity, not just business.

“It is about having a sharp eye for an opportunity. Creativity and innovation are about spotting opportunities and going for them.”

The conference, at Le Meridien in St Julian’s, had grouped officials from various sectors of education to discuss policy making under the EU Programmes Agency.