I refer to the excellent editorial, ‘Vocational education’ (November 17).

It must be emphasised that the generally held view that vocational education and training (VET) prepares one for a manual or semi-manual trade or occupation is not factual. There are, without any doubt, manual occupations that lend themselves to VET but it does not stop there.

Take as an example the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). This is a two year internationally-recognised vocational training programme designed to give industry and other commercial entities leaders for the future.

Students follow a curriculum consisting of two academic subjects from the IB Diploma courses (accepted worldwide as a university entry qualification) and the completion of the IBCP core requirements. The latter is a work-based programme designed to promote personal, professional and communication skills derived as a result of work placements or internships in local businesses and exposure to voluntary community work.

At 18.6 per cent, Malta has the highest percentage of early school-leavers in the 18- to 24-year cohort in the EU, where the average is 10.6 per cent.

The Malta percentage is, thankfully, decreasing annually at a rate far higher than the EU average and the island is committed to reaching the EU’s ESL goal of 10 per cent by 2020. White collar VET will make a contribution to achieve this.