Five vocational subjects have been promoted to Secondary Education Certificate level in a move intended to recognise the skills of students who learn better through a hands-on approach.

The subjects are information technology, health and social care, engineering, hospitality and agri-business.

“Our plan is to introduce more vocational subjects in the future to make the educational system more relevant to students’ needs,” Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said at a news conference at the San Ġwann primary school.

The first four were introduced some years ago as courses under BTech, an English certification system, but were not considered to be on par with SEC subjects.

These subjects, as well as in agri-business, will now be certified locally under an agreement reached with the Matsec board. This would also mean that the course content would be tailor-made for the Maltese context, Mr Bartolo said.

During his visit, Mr Bartolo also spoke about various other changes which will come into force next month, at the start of the new scholastic year.

He said the government had successfully managed to lower the price of school uniforms by 10 per cent, reducing the financial burden being borne by parents.

The next scholastic year will also herald the introduction of middle-schools in all government colleges and further expansion of co-education.

Other innovations include proficiency lessons in Italian, the re-introduction of accounts after a 20-year absence, and ethics for students sitting out of religion classes.

In addition, the alternative learning programme for students having no intention to sit for SEC exams will start from September, rather than January as was the case last year.