PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION AND SPORT

The Ministry for Education and Sport refers to a press release issued regarding the Minister's recent statements on the future direction of vocational education at secondary level.

The Government wishes to reaffirm, first and foremost, that its educational policies are shaped with families at their centre. Every proposal, every reform and every idea put forward is ultimately measured against a single question: does it serve the wellbeing, the aspirations and the everyday realities of Maltese and Gozitan families and their children. The Ministry recognises that parents, students and educators experience the education system differently, and it is precisely these lived realities and this feedback that must continue to inform the policies that Government introduces.

It is in this spirit that the Ministry wishes to clarify the process that will be followed. Government's recent statements represent the opening of a conversation, not the conclusion of one. In fact, as stated in the video itself, a consultation process with the relevant educational stakeholders and fora will start before any policy document is drafted, so that their expertise, experience and concerns are heard and reflected from the very outset. Once this consultation phase has been concluded and a draft policy document has been prepared and finalised, that document will, in turn, be published for a full round of public consultation, ensuring that every family, educator and interested member of the public has the opportunity to contribute their views before any decision is finalised.

Government remains firmly of the view that, whatever form future reforms take, the ultimate aim must be one that unites everyone: that every child in Malta and Gozo is given the opportunity to pursue their dreams and is equipped with the tools, skills and support they need to do so with confidence.

The Ministry for Education and Sport looks forward to continuing this process of engagement with all stakeholders in the coming weeks.