Research demonstrates that children start deciding which career paths to follow between the ages of eight and 13, according to Josann Cutajar, director of the University of Malta’s Cottonera Resource Centre.

She was explaining to Commissioner for Children Pauline Miceli the reason behind the Xjenza Mania summer school at the centre, which is promoting science, technology, arts and maths (steam) among children in this age group.

Cutajar added that the summer school was set up in Cottonera because a number of the students had relatives who had worked at the dockyard and they might have picked up some technical and scientific knowledge through informal interactions. “The school is building on this knowledge,” she said.

Addressing the students, Miceli said that they were the experts when it comes to what adults need to do to ensure that children’s rights are respected.

She visited the classes and saw the students at work during robotics, design and technology, science, maths, English and Maltese sessions.

The school adopts a thematic approach, and every week a different theme is adopted and taught through the different subjects.