Malta needs an action plan to highlight which skill sets match current job requirements since certain courses are not producing prospective employees equipped with the right competencies, according to strategist Alex Grech.
“The world is changing fast. Some careers no longer automatically translate into a job, such as lawyers, for example.
“At University I often meet students reading for a Bachelor of Communications who think they can find a job for life and are later very shocked to find themselves without a job.”
Dr Grech penned the draft National Lifelong Learning Strategy which was rolled out for public consultation yesterday, targeting adult education and training for people aged between 25 and 64.
I often meet students reading for a Bachelor of Communications who think they can find a job for life and are later shocked to find no job
Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said the 2020 strategy aimed to address the low rate of adults who pursued education and training beyond compulsory schooling age as well as early school leavers with minimal skills and the low number of women actively at work or engaged in training.
What they might have learnt 20 or 30 years ago may no longer be relevant, Dr Dalli pointed out.
It also targeted the “low education culture” passed on from generation to generation.
Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo said that, according to a recent study, 75 per cent of Malta’s workforce required better skills.
“Parents and society must also give a high value to education.
“In China, for instance, children harbour a drive to succeed which stems from their parents and from society.
“We know that half of all new jobs are being taken by foreigners – and not because Maltese lack the skills but because they refuse to work certain jobs.”
Dr Grech argued that local councils, NGOs, Malta Enterprise, trade unions, the Church, correctional facilities and sports organisations all needed to improve the synergy between each other.
The document aims to promote adult skills and vocational education and training as the optimum route to employability. It also wants to develop a coherent and sustainable accreditation system and advocates embracing open education resources.
Inclusivity will be supported while marginalised communities will be empowered.
The document is open for feedback until December 14 and can viewed on www.education.gov.mt.
Employment and training
• Seven per cent of the Maltese population aged 25 to 64 is engaged in education and training. The EU 2020 target is 15 per cent.
• The share of early school leavers is 22.6 per cent, compared to the EU average of 12.8 per cent.
• Only 50.4 per cent of women aged 20 to 64 years are in employment. The EU 2020 target is an overall employment ratio of 75 per cent.
• Among Maltese people aged 25-59 whose parents had a low level of education, 73 per cent had a low level of education themselves, 17 per cent had a medium level and only 10 per cent had attended university.