An extension to the Youth Guarantee Scheme was this morning unveiled with a total investment of €2.7 million which is estimated to reach around 2,000 youths.

The Government said that as part of the extended scheme, revision classes for those students who get low grades in their O’Levels for the core subjects (Maths, English, Physics and Maltese) will be provided free of charge during the summer months. In a similar scheme, students at MCAST who didn’t succeed their May/June examinations will also be given revision classes.

The scope of these initiatives is to make sure that no youths drop out early, which would leave them without the necessary skills to find good employment later on, the Government said

The Ministry for Education and Employment, together with Jobs+, said that they will also be embarking on an extension of the ‘Alternative Learning Programme,’ which will provide additional training in ICT and soft skills – crucial attributes in order to find quality employment.

These initiatives were presented during the Youth Guarantee International Conference, whereby a number of speakers from the EU were invited to share their experience in addressing youth unemployment in their respective countries.

Addressing the conference, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the Government is committed to help youths to succeed and aspire to improve their lives.

“Although the youth unemployment rate in Malta remains low when compared to our European counterparts, those young people who can contribute to the country are still rejected by a rigid educational system.

“Government will be delivering the Youth Guarantee through a dual approach – the preventive approach which will identify at an early stage those youth potentially at risk of becoming early school leavers, before they actually leave school; and the reactive response which will address those youths who are already not engaged in education, employment or training.”

The Prime Minister also said that Government is committed in reducing inflow of young people known as NEETS (not in education, employment or training) and more initiatives, such as revision classes for those who fail and vocational programmes designed to entice early school leavers to join MCAST. “The Youth Guarantee is an initiative that will try to secure a second chance for young people so that they do not end up marginalised, claiming benefits and placing a burden on society.”

Dr.Muscat added that the country wants to ensure that young people rejected by the system find the support they need to regain positive energy and ambition to move forward.

During his address, the Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo, said that the country must provide alternative routes to education, which will in turn lead to a more skilled workforce. He said that it is important that we avoid the situation whereby young people enter the job market early, without the crucial skills needed to guarantee long-term quality employment.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, Ian Borg, said that for the programming period 2014-2020, as already highlighted in the Public Consultation Document, NEETs will remain a priority. Indeed, under the Thematic Objective 1, “Promoting Employment and Supporting Labour Mobility” the ESF will play a key role in strengthening the labour market through ‘sustainable integration of young people.’

He continued in saying that this is not just any other initiative. “This is an opportunity to provide hope. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of our younger generation; the future of our labour force, the future of our economic competitiveness, the future of our country. We believe we have the energy, the enthusiasm, the ideas and the right strategies to achieve this.”

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