The Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. The Ministry for Education and Employment is one of fourteen ministries, headed by Hon. Evarist Bartolo, assisted by the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport and voluntary organisations.
The objective of the Ministry for Education and Employment is to provide present and future generations with the necessary skills and talents for citizenship and employability, in the 21st century and beyond. Our children need to develop their personal and social potential and acquire the appropriate knowledge, key skills, competences and attitudes through a value-oriented formation including equity, social justice, diversity and inclusivity.
The Ministry for Education and Employment is committed to continually improve on the services it offers. The Ministry works closely with the Better Regulations Unit and the Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Bureaucracy, to ensure that Better Regulation principles and procedures are applied consistently throughout the Ministry.[1]
The following sectors fall within the Ministry for Education and Employment portfolio:
Childcare and Early Education
Early years provision in the local context is divided into at least two distinct but invariably overlapping sectors:
a) The non-compulsory sector, which is further sub-divided into two aspects:
1. child-care for under three-year-olds
The Free Childcare Scheme is a system which provides free childcare services to parents/guardians who work or are pursuing their education. The childcare service is either provided directly through government services or alternatively through Registered Childcare Centres. The age group for this scheme is for children from 3 months up to 3 years of age. Free Childcare is terminated once the child is eligible to enrol into Kindergarten 1.
2. kindergarten (KG) for three to five-year-olds
Although kindergarten education is not compulsory, it helps lay the foundation stones for preparing your child to enter primary school. At kindergarten, children pick up basic literary and social skills in a fun way through play with their classmates and by following exercises led by their teacher. Kindergarten also helps ease children in to the school system
b) The first two years of compulsory primary education comprising five to seven-year-olds (NCF, 2013).
Primary and Secondary Education
Between the ages of five and 16, children are given an education that serves them throughout the rest of their lives. A good primary and secondary education is extremely important, both for academic and social development. During these 11 years of education children are taught reading and writing skills, mathematics and science, as well as sports and creativity. While making friendships, many of which last an entire lifetime, they learn key skills like teamwork and leadership. So, whether they opt to continue in the academic field, to pursue vocational skills or to enter the world of work straight away, primary and secondary education is the key to these next mandatory life steps.
Higher Education including the Malta College of arts, Science and Technology (MCAST)
Higher education strategy for Malta is embedded within the overall strategic direction of the proposed Framework for the Education Strategy for Malta for 2014 to 2024[2] and aims to deliver specific targets with regard to higher education.
Vocational Education and Training provides important alternative pathways into higher education. The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is the country’s leading vocational education and training institution. Through our six institutes in Malta and the Gozo Campus, we offer 185 full-time and over 300 part-time vocational courses ranging from certificates to degrees (MQF Level 1 to Level 6). Our students are prepared for careers in different sectors of the economy or for higher education. We collaborate closely with local industries to ensure that the knowledge, skills and competencies within our curricula are appropriate and relevant to a dynamic and forward-looking economy.
Lifelong Learning
The development of Malta’s Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020[3] offers the opportunity to provide and facilitate tangible opportunities for relevant education beyond compulsory schooling age. Access to relevant learning throughout life is a fundamental cornerstone in our aspirations to have a sustainable knowledge-based society and economy.
The objectives of the Directorate for Lifelong Learning is mainly to bring about coordination in the sector by making optimal use of the diverse learning opportunities and lift the barriers for participation in adult learning.
Employment and Training
The Ministry for Education and Employment ensures that the economic and social aspects of employment are kept into perspective, the employment policy provides a comprehensive set of initiatives and measures that will enhance the concept of making work pay.
In 2014, a national employment policy[4] was launched to bring to light labour market frictions that impede the labour market from functioning to its full potential. The policy document addresses the issues of youth and female employment, upskilling for persons trapped in long term unemployment and initiatives to attract persons with disability to the place of work. The mission of Jobsplus[5], the entity responsible for employment and training states that ‘ Our Mission is to enhance accessibility to the labour market through modernised and targeted services, whilst facilitating labour mobility and promoting investment in human capital.
Youth and Sports
The aim of the entity managing Youth policies, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ[6] is to mainstream youth related issues and further develop youth services. It enables further investment in young people and helps them realise their potential. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s overall objective is to provide a coherent, cohesive and unified Government approach to addressing the needs and aspirations of young people.
Malta is putting sport high on the national agenda as we believe that investment in sport is investment in society. Society needs to look at sport as a means by which our people lead healthier lifestyles. Sport all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels. SportMalta[7] vision of sport is not limited to sporting events but looks at sports as mechanism to creating sustainable jobs. Sports can lead Malta to improve its competitiveness by tapping efficiently into its venues and human resources.
Other sectors falling within the Ministry for Education and Employment portoflio are The National Archives, National Library, Public libraries, Examinations and voluntary organisations.[8]
1] Ministry for Education and Employment Malta mission and responsibility statement
[2] Higher Education Strategy for Malta:
[3] Malta National Lifelong Learning Strategy: http://education.gov.mt/en/Documents/Malta%20National%20Lifelong%20Learning%20Strategy%202020.pdf
[4] The National Employment Policy 2014: http://education.gov.mt/en/resources/Documents/Policy%20Documents%202014/EMPLOYMENT%20POLICY%20DOC%20sml.pdf
[5]https://jobsplus.gov.mt/about
[6] http://www.agenzijazghazagh.gov.mt/
[7]http://education.gov.mt/en/Pages/SportMalta.aspx
[8] Further information on these areas is accessible on:http://education.gov.mt/en/Pages/educ.aspx#