A certificate for all seasons

In his article ‘The new school leaving certificate’ (The Sunday Times, July 24) we presume what Martin Pater Farrell is referring to is the Secondary School Certificate and Profile which, as the word ‘profile’ itself implies, aims (for the first time in the history of education in Malta) to showcase students’ achievements throughout the five-year secondary school cycle.

This initiative was conceived during council meetings at the Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) which, at that time, included the active representation of the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE).

The profile’s overall objective is to provide future employers and further and higher education institutions with a comprehensive profile of the knowledge, skills and competences of our young generations.

Malta is among the first EU member states to have introduced such a system in compulsory education aimed at nurturing an understanding of the importance for non-formal and informal learning, so that all young people consider after-school and out-of-school activities as having an added value in their CVs in preparation for their careers and in the development of their personal and social formation as active citizens and fulfilled human beings.

The profile includes formal subjects studied in each of the five secondary school years, the non-formal activities taking place during the school day and informal activities. By ‘informal activities’ we understand learning which takes place outside school hours and which is independent from school regulations and assessment procedures.

Another very important element of the profile is the credit given to personal qualities which a learner nurtures during his or her school years.

As expected, the profile also gives credit to regular school attendance.

The DQSE and the MQC have had substantial feedback from the public through various means of communication. The public felt the need to be informed about the various components of the profile.

Moreover, the MQC and the DQSE have published various information letters for parents and entities. An information booklet targeting solely informal learning was published by the MQC and the DQSE in October 2010.

Various information sessions were also held in schools which targeted teachers, parents and students. Meetings were also held with various entities and organisations within civil society. DQSE staff also appeared in a number of television programmes to explain this innovation to the general public.

Indeed, in keeping with its remit, the DQSE recognises only those activities which are registered with the MQC. This is done to assure quality standards of registering entities to safeguard the interests of the beneficiaries of the profile – young people between the ages of 11 and 16.

The alternative to this would be total disorganisation, which is incompatible with the way things ought to be done.

In his article, Farrell, said the profile “discriminates against disadvantaged children whose families are not in a position to pay”. If one looks at the long list of registered entities, one would realise that there are numerous entities where no payment is required, for example, the Society of Christian Doctrine, Girl Guides, village band clubs, after-school college/school activities, sport initiatives, such as those organised by the Malta Sports Council, to mention but a few.

Though all informal activities will be listed in the learner’s profile, the learner will only be accredited for one activity every year, an activity that is chosen by the learner, not the school.

It is very heartening to realise that, thanks to the profile, learners have become motivated to enter the field of voluntary work, and as a consequence, experience the positive impact this leaves on their personal formation, and which in return also contributes directly to one of their roles within civil society.

Presently, the profile acknowledges all the learning carried out by various entities registered with the MQC. It is expected that these registered entities in turn show that they are competent in the learning experiences they are providing young people.

We need to appreciate that this is a learning experience for all locally, but definitely “a reversal to something closer to the older system”, which only recognised examination marks in the final year of compulsory schooling, is not the way forward in this regard.

The DQSE is interested in acknowledging and formally certifying different forms of learning that take place during the five years of secondary education. It is up to the student to identify and document her/his informal learning.

The main objective of the profile is to provide an incentive for young people to better equip themselves with knowledge, skills and attitudes for personal fulfilment, lifelong learning and employability reasons.

The DQSE and MQC are committed to continuously review the process and listen to constructive feedback with the aim of improving and expanding the system where appropriate, always keeping in mind the needs of our young people and their profile as they move beyond compulsory education.

The initiative being implemented acknowledges all the valuable work being done by numerous entities after school hours and gives them due importance for the learning that is taking place. The profile gives a wider vision of learning that takes place within school and after school.

Further information on the Secondary School Certificate and Profile can be accessed on www.mqc.gov.mt or http://skola.edu.mt/secondary-school-certificate-and-profile .

Mr Curmi is from the Malta Qualifications Council. Mr DeGabriele and Ms Grima are from the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education.

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