THE NEW CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN STATE COLLEGES IN MALTA

THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES DIRECTOR GENERAL STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR EDUCATION PSYCHO-SOCIAL SERVICES SERVICE MANAGER GUIDANCE & COUNSELLING TEAM PER COLLEGE COLLEGE COUNSELLOR & COUNSELLOR & TRAINEE COUNSELLOR COLLEGE CAREER ADVISOR & CAREER ADVISOR & TRAINEE CAREER ADVISOR SCHOOL COUNSELLORS & GUIDANCE TEACHERS CAREER GUIDANCE UNIT 5 CAREER GUIDANCE TEACHERS

CAREER EDUCATION AT PRIMARY LEVEL – PILOT PROJECT PAWS in JOBLAND  An ICT-Programme targeted for Year 5 pupils (9-year-olds)  Through Paws – a puppy accompanies the student along the path, the student explores the world of careers.  The Programme is then used, to help students embark on an expedition and explore various careers. CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAMME  Aimed to start off a process of reflection, questioning, highlighting important attitudes, skills and widening the spectrum of careers.

CAREER EDUCATION & CAREER GUIDANCE AT SECONDARY LEVEL  As of scholastic year 2009/2010 a National Career Lessons programme has been initiated for all Fourth Formers in the 10 State Colleges  5 Career Guidance Teachers (who have specialised in Career Guidance and Lifelong Learning at Post-Graduate Level and/or Master level) from the Career Guidance Unit are each assigned to 2 Colleges and are responsible for the delivery of Career Lessons to Form Four students  The Career Guidance Teachers also provide personal individual Career Guidance sessions to students within the College.

THE CAREER LESSONS PROGRAMME  Consists of four lessons of one hour and a half each.  The Career lessons are interactive and are aided with multimedia tools.  A booklet which complements the lessons is distributed to each student. The Booklet is a useful reference tool as well as a Workbook on which students fill in exercises, engage in groupwork and roleplays.  Time is allocated after each lesson for personalised Career Guidance with the Career Guidance Teacher.

THE CAREER LESSONS PROGRAMME  The first lesson is aimed at encouraging students reflect upon themselves, as well as their aspirations in terms of what careers are of particular interest to them  The second lesson helps students become aware of values, interests, and skills needed in exploring the world of work.  The third lesson presents to students differences and similarities between school life and the world of work, new challenges as a result of globalisation and the importance of Life Long Learning.  The fourth lesson equips students with Job Seeking Skills, as well as information about the National Qualifications Framework. Students are given the opportunity of filling in a letter of application as well as doing a ‘Curriculum Vitae’ according to the Europass model. The last part of the lesson focuses on preparing oneself for an interview and actually sitting for an interview.

ORIENTATION TALKS AND VISIT  The Career Guidance Unit is also responsible for the Co-Ordination of Orientation Visits and Talks for Form 4 & Form 5s.  Form 4 students are accompanied by the Guidance Teachers in their respective Colleges to Talks and Visits which focus on the World of Work such as banks, insurance companies, the Police Academy, the Armed Forces, factories etc  Form 5 students attend visits and talks in relation to post-secondary institutions such the Institute of Tourism Studies, the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology, University of Malta etc

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE Organised on two levels:  On National level and co-ordinated by the Central Unit and targeted for Form 4 students and  College-based and co-ordinated by the Guidance Teachers and the Career Guidance Teachers in the Colleges and targeted for Form 4 students in some Colleges, and Form 5 students in other Colleges.

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE The Objectives are:  To give the students the chance to reflect upon the realities of work  To widen their knowledge on various jobs  To help them get to know themselves better  To help them prepare better for the transition post-Form 5

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE National-Based Initiative In conjunction with MFSA – Malta Financial Services Authority  Students inclined towards the financial sector spend a week in a financial institution such as an insurance company, a bank etc In conjunction with the Health Services Department  Students inclined towards the caring professions benefit from job exposure in Departments such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy etc.

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE College-Based Initiative  During this week students are placed according to their preference and abilities at the workplaces available.  Students experience jobs such as care giving at an old people’s home, media production, store keeping, office work at the local councils, agriculture, library services etc.  They shadow a normal day of work and where possible wear the school uniform.

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE Parental involvement  Parents are informed at the beginning of the year and are called again for another meeting just before the commencement of the Job Exposure. A detailed signed consent is requested.  This experience is also important for the parents as it highlights aspects of their role as parents of teenage children.  The experience serves as an eye opener which makes them aware that their child has now arrived at the threshold of being considered as part of the country’s workforce and hence no longer a child.

JOB EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE Handbook  Students are given a handbook to help them reflect and note things. The employer also fills in part of this handbook so as to give them feedback with regards to their potential as workers  The handbook is also be used during the processing sessions held both prior and post the work exposure

CMS DEVELPOMENT IN MALTA  The structure is in place and new professionals within the Career Guidance field have started being employed  Professionals within the Career Guidance field are being trained at PG Diploma and Masters level  The structure at this moment in time still lacks leadership, since at present it falls under the Education Psycho-Social Services Remit

IMPACTS OF WP1 ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT  The sharing of good practices have helped in the way the Career Guidance implementation is taking place on a national level  Reports have been submitted to the Directorate so as to influence policy makers

Dissemination at National Level  Reports have been submitted to Policy Unit within the Directorate of Educational Services  Other people who have been informed were Director General of Directorate of Educational Services and Director of Student Services

Promotion of Policy Development  Sharing of good practices in other countries to be promoted at national level with the aim of influencing the way forward in relation to CMS within the Education system in Malta

Stephania Cuschieri