The Malta Institute of Management has once again called for a reform in education and in accreditation systems. The MIM has for more than a decade stated that the education sector needs a reform as it is not meeting the needs of the economy in various sectors.
Various sectors are having issues in identifying the right human capital in order to ensure it provides the services necessary towards the business that they have attracted. At the same time, the number of young people leaving school at the age of 16 is one of the highest in the European Union. This is a clear indication that the education system is not working and is becoming unattractive to younger persons.
The MIM said there were various measures that one can take in this sense, including increasing school leaving age to 18 years and reviewing the assessment system as well as the obligatory subjects in proceeding into certain educational programmes.
The laws have created injustices and a vacuum in engineering, accounting
While calling for more focus on exit rather than entry points, the MIM proposed various alternative routes to various administrations, with unfortunately no follow ups by the appropriate Ministers. The MIM has created itself alternative qualification, just to be turned down by the archaic method of assessment for accreditation.
The main comment MIM received was that it did not fall within the traditional system of education, which made it evident that the assessors were not in a position to consider new ways of delivery or assessment.
The system of warrants (practising certificates) in Malta is also an old one aimed at creating a cartel which defied the whole concept of competition. In addition, the laws of Malta, in certain circumstances, were more favourable towards foreigners than towards Maltese.
The laws have created injustices and a vacuum when it comes to engineering, accountancy and other qualifications. Successive governments have failed to address this, in spite of the fact that some of these qualifications are offered by the Malta College for Arts Science and Technology.
The MIM added that the National Commission for Further and Higher Education needed to be more open to different propositions. However, more importantly it needed to work in order to disseminate information of its function with other authorities and institutions in Malta. It was uncalled for that what was recognised and accredited by the NCFHE was not recognised by other institutions or Ministries.
The paradox was that what was accredited by NCFHE will be recognised in other EU member states, but not by Maltese government bodies.
The MIM called on the Minister for Education to immediately set up a working group with executive powers to address the situation.