SPEECH BY THE HON. LAWRENCE GONZI, ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE "EUROPEAN UNION LEONARDO DA VINCI PROGRAMME IN MALTA"

Hon. Ministers,

Your Excellencies,

Ms Marta Ferreira, Head of Unit, Leonardo da Vinci, European Commission,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here this morning to launch the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci Programme in Malta. This is yet another educational programme of the European Union which is now accessible for Maltese participants. Malta signed the Association Agreement with the EU last September 29^th and that agreement made possible Malta's participation in Socrates, Leonardo and Youth. My Government has also already started negotiations with the EU on the Fifth Framework Programme and Culture 2000. This is in line with the Government's commitment to participate in these programmes. We are doing our utmost to implement this commitment for the benefit of our students, young people, educational staff and workers.

Today's launch of Leonardo is full of significance. It reaffirms the strong declaration that my Government has made, committing itself to strengthen vocational education and training in Malta. It is another concrete manifestation of this commitment. More importantly, it represents a further step in our strategy to empower our workforce in a manner which will enable it to meet the challenges which a modern economy presents to all of us.

This is a strategy which has been translated by my government into concrete initiatives which can only be fully appreciated if seen from a macro perspective. They are initiatives which - we believe - will not merely reform this specific sector, but which will revolutionise it. Indeed, during the past few months, my Government has launched a six pronged programme in vocational education and training, which I would like to briefly list to you.

Firstly, my Government has established the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology which will prepare students with the education and skills required to face the challenges of an ever evolving labour market and which will also be a key player in the fostering of a lifelong learning culture in Malta. This college will incorporate existing vocational education institutes and schools into one corporate identity and vision. Entry into the college will offer school leavers an alternative route to university and the standards of education and training, together with placements at establishments, will make this college a prestigious institution. The courses run at the college will be augmented by the placement of students at foreign establishments for practical training under the Leonardo programme.

Secondly, the Ministry of Education has undertaken a very comprehensive reform of technology education in our secondary schools. We are profoundly aware of the need for our young people to be exposed to technology from as early an age as possible. Up to the last scholastic year, technology education was only offered to a few hundred students who attended trade schools. As from this scholastic year, technology education has been introduced in all secondary schools thus making it within reach of thousands of students. It is even planned that, in future, technology education will be made further available to Junior Lyceums and primary schools. This measure was included in the National Minimum Curriculum which is, in force, in our educational system as from the present scholastic year.

Thirdly, Government has only last month published a new legislative framework for the award of professional and vocational qualifications. It seeks to establish standards of occupational competence and makes provision for their assessment and certification. We aim to set up standards based on EU guidelines so that qualifications awarded in Malta will enjoy recognition at European level. The social partners, the educators and employers are represented on the Malta Council for Professional and Vocational Qualifications. This system will also facilitate Malta's participation in the EUROPASS initiative which forms part of the Leonardo da Vinci programme.

Fourthly, a substantially increased budget for 2001 for the Employment and Training Corporation will enable the latter to undertake new employment and vocational training initiatives to assist job seekers in their job search by giving them the skills demanded by the labour market. Moreover, the re-training of persons in employment is essential to maintain our competitiveness and to ensure that Malta will be able to compete in the global marketplace.

Fifthly, as Minister for Social Policy I can confirm that my Ministry is developing a national human resources development policy for Malta which will indicate the national vision, objectives and targets to be reached. The Employment and Training Corporation, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for Economic Services and the Foundation for Human Resources Development will join efforts to draft this policy and spearhead this initiative although all stakeholders will eventually be involved in the development of this plan.

Sixthly, ever since the reactivation of Malta's application for membership of the European Union in 1998, my government has entered into a vigorous exercise to implement the acquis communautaireand to identify changes needed to local legislation and practices to be able to adopt this acquis. Among other areas, the area of vocational training was examined under Chapter 18 – Education, Training and Youth. Malta's position in this regard was positive and this served to speed the conclusion of negotiations on this chapter. Malta had to focus on three main areas – the establishment of a national system for the award of vocational qualifications, participation in the Leonardo da Vinci programme and the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship. I am pleased to state that Malta has now addressed with good success the first two of these three issues. The issue of the EUROPASS document for those citizens of member states who undergo vocational training in Malta will be seen to early next year as our local system of national vocational qualifications starts being implemented and clear guidelines are provided by the Commission to Malta as to how to manage the EUROPASS system in Malta.

This list of initiatives taken and implemented within a relatively brief span of time, confirms my government's commitment to upgrade and update our vocational training systems. It is also a further strong reason which justifies our determination to seek membership of the European Union as this provides us with opportunities which would otherwise not be easily available.

Participation in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme is just one example. Participation in the mobility measures will create a mobility culture in Malta whereby we appreciate the benefits to be derived by undergoing training abroad or by obtaining a work experience abroad. Monitoring the placement of foreigners in Malta is an experience in itself. I augur that a varied client group will be exposed to such mobility experiences including educators, trainers, students, apprentices and workers. I am sure that we will not only play the part of learners in this process but we have our contribution to make to help others develop and to widen their work experiences. The local interest in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme is already significant. I am informed that about 250 persons have applied for mobility projects this year and this is very encouraging. Maltese participation in projects will enable us to innovate our training and working practices and to join others in the development of training programmes and research.

Participation in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme should also contribute to the employability and increased adaptability of the Maltese workforce. The training of trainers under the programme will have a multiplier effect on the local workforce as we import good practices and transfer knowledge to others. Local participation in the programme will not ignore disadvantaged groups so that the principle of social inclusion will be implemented. The opportunities offered by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme are numerous and we should seek to exploit these opportunities for our advantage.

Last month, I joined the Prime Minister in addressing a Conference on the EU Employment Guidelines organised in Malta on the occasion of the ETC's tenth anniversary since its establishment in Malta in 1990. In our address we both highlighted the fact that the Maltese Government is gearing its administrative machinery to be able to implement the actions and practices contemplated by these guidelines.

The targets mentioned under the four pillars of employability, entrepreneurship, adaptability, and equal opportunities are of extreme relevance to Malta. Indeed, I am pleased to say that my government has already taken concrete steps to guarantee the employability and adaptability of the local workforce through heavier investment in tertiary level education and in vocational training. The cultivation of an entrepreneurial culture is certainly not lacking in Malta and undoubtedly, the setting up of the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprises has continued to foster this culture whilst encouraging a larger number of persons to start their own business.

Similarly, the concept of equal opportunities is valued by the government - indeed it is an underlying factor of our vision in this aspect. This is why we have introduced some far reaching measures such as career breaks, responsibility breaks and reduced hours, all of which have contributed to the increases in the female participation rate which we have witnessed over the past fifteen months. By next year, we hope to take further legislative initiatives which will include the upgrading of our labour laws, and the enactment of gender equality legislation.

We are also committed to integrate persons with disability in all sectors of our social life, including the labour market. The Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act enacted by our Parliament earlier this year is not only a strong statement in this direction but it is also an empowerment tool which addresses issues of discrimination and which will therefore continue to facilitate the creation of an inclusive society at all levels.

As I have already stated, the labour market in Malta is evolving. The trend towards increased employment in the private market services sector is gaining added pace. Our manufacturing establishments are discovering new ways of producing higher-value added products in order to increase their penetration of export markets. Latest employment statistics indicate an increasing number of persons furthering their education beyond compulsory schooling - a crucial factor for the sustained economic growth in an economy which is becoming ever more information and knowledge based.

This is indeed an exciting time for all of us. We have a window of opportunity which we must exploit to the fullest of our ability. It is a unique time in our history which might not repeat itself for quite some time. Today, we are living in a world which has shed its traditional concepts of grandeur based on territorial expanse, on frontiers and borders and on the creation of artificial obstacles for competition from outside.

This has changed into a world which communicates intensely and continuously. A world which invites us all to plug into the electronic highway and to maximise every single opportunity that comes our way. It is a change which is technology based and therefore requires us all to acquire as quickly as possible the knowledge, the ability and the skills which are required.

Today's launching of the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci programme dovetails beautifully into this scenario. It is being made possible because of our decision to move towards European Union membership and because of our determination to achieve this historic goal in the context of the vision we have for our country.

I would like to conclude by thanking you all for being present here today. The presence of senior officials from the European Commission, as well as representative of various National Agencies and Italian Leonardo beneficiaries in Malta, is proof of your support to Malta's participation in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme and your availability to form partnerships with local organisations. I hope that similar partnerships will be established in other areas of mutual interest to Malta and EU member states.

Thank you.