Minister suggests IT learning start earlier

The University of Malta should offer courses that prepared students for specialisations within the world of technology, Communications Minister Austin Gatt said.

"Economically speaking, we cannot keep working with a generalised form of education," he said adding that the education system had to look increasingly towards future developments and adapt the courses offered.

Dr Gatt was addressing representatives of government and private companies and organisations during the 20th National Information Society Advisory Council.

The council, on which sit a large number of private and public sector stakeholders in the IT sector, was set up seven years ago as an advisory body to the government.

Speaking about developments in the world of technology, Dr Gatt said perhaps it was time to start preparing students from Form 3 rather than waiting for postsecondary school.

He pointed to various rising trends in the technology market, including the rise of the i-gaming market where Malta had already attracted 350 companies that employed about 3,800 people collectively.

The government was also in negotiations with two companies, one from Holland and the other from Australia, that were looking into setting up internet game offices in Malta.

Dr Gatt added he was confident that Smart City, scheduled to start taking in tenants later this year, would employ about 5,600 people in the IT industry.

The various niches high-lighted the point that the education system had to look to the future to ensure today's students were equipped with the right skills for tomorrow, he said.