ITS and MCAST to offer recognition for Prince’s Trust programme at SEC level

Education minister Evarist Bartolo spoke about the importance of providing young people with the necessary skills to face challenges. Speaking at the  signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Institute of Tourism Studies and the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology, Bartolo explained how the two institutions have accepted the Prince’s Trust XL programme as a SEC subject.

Education ministry policy officer Mandy Buhagiar explained that the Trust had been operational as a pilot project over the past scholastic year, with students with particularly challenging backgrounds or performances being identified by the heads of the seven schools taking part in the project.

“The idea of the programme is to offer hands-on activity as an alternative means of learning,” she said, adding that students under the programme would learn practical skills like money handling, landscaping and interview skills, as well as integrating traditional subjects like Mathematics into daily activities.

Buhagiar added that the programme, funded by HSBC Malta, had already revealed an improvement in attendance for students.

Speaking at St. Clare’s College in Pembroke, Bartolo said the government sought to roll-out the programme to other public schools on the island, and he added that a number of Church and Private schools had already expressed their interest in participating.

“Given the agreement being signed today, the programme will be worth one SEC at entry level for entry into MCAST and ITS foundation courses,” Bartolo said.

Expressing his gratitude for the fact that Malta was the first country to take the Prince’s Trust overseas, Bartolo said that he was very proud that the programme was being accredited by local educational institutions.

“The number of early school leavers the country has is unacceptable, and it is proof of the fact that our education still doesn’t reach everyone,” he said, adding that the quality of education ought to be measured by the skills achieved at the end of the educational experience rather than just attendance.

MCAST chairman Silvio Debono said that the agreement was part of the college’s drive to offer different programmes and brighter futures through perseverance and hard work.

“The programme is another endeavour to help students to attend MCAST despite any difficult backgrounds or perhaps low marks they might obtain.”