Conversion of school labs to vocational training labs to affect 4,000 students

A government project will see the conversion of laboratories in various schools in Malta and Gozo into vocational education and training labs in a bid to reduce the rate of early school leavers

The project is aimed at increasing physical infrastructure in order to be able to provide vocational training to secondary school students
The project is aimed at increasing physical infrastructure in order to be able to provide vocational training to secondary school students

A government project expected to support more than 3,700 students will see the conversion of laboratories in various schools in Malta and Gozo into vocational education and training (VET) labs.

One of the three projects announced today by parliamentary secretary for EU funds Ian Borg, project INVEST, will involve the setting-up of a total of 44 VET labs in eleven schools in Malta, and four VET labs in a school in Gozo in the areas of Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Hospitality, and Health and Social Care.

According to Borg, the project is aimed at increasing physical infrastructure in order to be able to provide vocational training to secondary school students. In this way, the projects is envisaged to contribute to reducing the rate of early school leavers.

The project will cost approximately €5 million, of which, €3 million will come out of EU funds.

The other projects involve opening assistive technology centres for disabled persons and centres for the integration of vulnerable persons.

The former, aims at facilitating the integration and increase the independence of persons with disabilities – including those who suffer from long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments – with the support of assistive technology.

Three assistive technology centres will be established, two in Malta, in MCAST Paola and Mtarfa, and one in Għajnsielem, Gozo.

This project, which is worth €567,706, is estimated to assist around 1,300 persons, according to Borg.

The third project – Centre for the Integration of Vulnerable Persons – is intended to alleviate vulnerable persons out of poverty and social exclusion, and to bring target groups closer to the labour market, Borg said.

The Centre for Integration will include a counselling room, recreational facilities, a computer lab, a conference room, a first-aid room, a meeting room, office space, and outdoor facilities, at a total cost of €1 million.