The Education Minister said it was not acceptable that students behaved in an exemplary manner at football nurseries but were disruptive at school. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has proposed the setting up of a national committee to discuss problems related to children with challenging behaviour.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Bartolo said the committee should include representatives from the government, the Opposition, the education authorities and the Malta Union of Teachers.

It was just not acceptable, he said, that 12 and 14-year-olds behaved in an exemplary manner at football nurseries and then, in school, their behaviour was so bad that it disrupted teaching. They would also use swear words.

He was concerned that teachers were feeling isolated and they were not being given the support they needed from the educational authorities.

Job creation was another challenge but the government drew comfort from the fact that 93 per cent of graduates, as well as 91 per cent of those who finished post-secondary education, quickly found work. These were among the best figures in the EU.

The biggest challenge, however, was to provide enough skilled workers to fill the jobs that were being and would continue to be created. The government was determined to make progress in the integration of people with disabilities in society and in the labour sector.

They were falling into a rut, some of them even sleeping in four different places within a week

The biggest problem, which Mr Bartolo described as “indeed a tragedy”, was that 7,000 youths aged between 18 and 24 left school lacking skills and were not doing anything. They were falling into a rut, some of them even sleeping in four different places within a week. The government was introducing measures to get them to follow training courses, such as the Alternative Learning programme, in a bid to rekindle their hope. So far, 500 young people had been reached.

He said that in his opinion the obligatory school leaving age of 16 was too low and did not make sense in today’s competitive world. At present, 14 per cent of fifth formers did not carry on studying after secondary school. This figure was far too high. All students should recognise the need to pursue further studies.

The revenue from the higher Metsec examination fees (€0.5 million) would go towards making the Metsac Board more efficient. The cost of exams in vocational subjects, however, had been reduced.

He was very pleased with the results achieved after the government organised private lessons for those who had failed their ‘O’ levels in June. As a result, many more candidates were successful in the English, Maths, Maltese and Physics re-sits.

Mr Bartolo said efforts were being made to forge a closer link between job needs and education in Gozo, and as from next year, hospitality would feature as a subject in all schools.