PN welcomes improvement in early school leaver statistics, but more work needed

The Nationalist Party on Thursday expressed its satisfaction at the latest figures published by Eurostat, which confirm that Malta has made considerable progress in the statistics relating to early school leavers, with Malta now registering a percentage below the European average of 9.1%.

These statistics confirm that Malta is moving in the right direction, owing to a number of decisions taken in the education sector in recent years, but also thanks to the establishment of various educational institutions such as MCAST, which today is offering wide-ranging and varied opportunities to thousands of students to continue at advanced and higher levels in their educational journey, the PN said.

Although these statistics are positive and recognise the valuable work being carried out in the education sector, particularly by schools, the PN noted that in recent years post-secondary institutions have also been admitting students who may not necessarily have obtained MQF Level 3, which is equivalent to Ordinary Level in the Matriculation Certificate (SEC). Today, students may continue to post-secondary level even if they do not achieve the level expected by the end of Year 11.

While this is also an important step in the country’s educational development, as it provides more opportunities and possibilities for Maltese young people, especially in vocational and applied fields, the PN said it remains concerned that our country continues to have a substantial and worrying number of young people leaving compulsory education without achieving Level 3 or without basic skills.

In fact, European reports confirm that Malta has one third of young people completing compulsory schooling who remain without these essential skills for today’s world, particularly because of the rapid pace at which the economy is changing and becoming driven by transversal skills. The PN also expresses concern that a large number of young people who continue to post-secondary level discontinue their studies after only a few months and remain with a low level of education. This presents a clear picture of the situation which is not always reflected in the statistics, and the PN urged the government to address these challenges and place them on the national agenda for discussion.

At the same time, the PN acknowledged all the efforts being made in this sector through incentives, initiatives, policies and strategies, all aimed at improving and raising the standard of Maltese students. In this context, it refers to the homework policy launched by the Minister for Education in recent days, which, although intended to encourage inquisitive and creative skills among others, reduces the importance of homework, which should always remain at the discretion and prerogative of professionals in the classroom.

Therefore, the PN said it cannot fully support this policy, as it believes in professionals. Nevertheless, it also noted that any initiative aimed at increasing children’s free time should be welcomed.

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