A new scheme targeting 7,000 jobless people aged 18 to 24 has had a poor response, with only six per cent applying to join.
The Youth Guarantee Scheme is an EU-funded initiative to tackle youth unemployment by securing a job offer, training, apprenticeship or continued education for the unemployed under 25.
“Initially only about 200 gave a positive reply but eventually we managed to persuade another 200 to take part,” Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said yesterday. He expressed his disappointment at such a low turnout, saying that even for individuals who showed no interest in receiving training, putting themselves on the job market would be a step forward. He was speaking during a visit to the campus of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology in Paola, which is currently hosting free SEC revision classes.
Eventually we managed to persuade another 200 to take part
A few minutes later, ministry official pointed out to the minister that the figure of 7,000 who had been invited to take part in the scheme included a number of young people who were in fact still studying.
However, when asked for a clarification and for more precise figures, a ministry spokesman later downplayed the concerns aired by Mr Bartolo, saying the aim of the scheme as announced in the 2014 Budget was to target 350 individuals.
“This is in line with the expected uptake,” the spokesman said in a completely different tone to that of the minister a few hours earlier. He said the success of the scheme would ultimately depend on how many of those taking part managed to enrol in further education or find productive employment.
The reasons why these individuals had found themselves in such a situation had been accumulating from the time they left secondary level years before, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Mr Bartolo announced that the attendance rate for the revision classes was of 68 per cent. The subjects offered are English, Maltese and physics, and students will be sitting for the Sec ‘O’ levels re-sits next month.
In total, 1,337 students had applied for the free tuition offered by the education ministry, which represented some 60 per cent of those who failed their SEC exams. The highest number of applicants was for maths lessons at 770, followed by English with 692. Applications totalled 2,348 due to the fact that a number of students applied for more than one subject.
An analysis will be carried out of the grades obtained by students who had originally applied for these lessons but never showed up. The reason for their absence could be a sign that the educational system was not motivating them to study or at least acquire the basic literacy skills, Mr Bartolo said.
Students who had not applied for SEC exams in the first place are being targeted through another scheme, the Alternative Learning Programme. The intention here is to assist them in entering Mcast or the Institute of Tourism Studies, or else in seeking employment. Revision classes for Mcast students failing the foundation course are also being given.