About VET

VET can be defined as education and training which aim to equip people with knowledge, know-how, skills and/or competences required in particular occupations or more broadly on the labour market. (Glossary – Quality in Education & Training, CEDEFOP)

 

Compulsory education in Malta is between 5 and 16 years of age. From 3 to 7 years children attend early years schooling (children between 3 to 5 years may opt not to attend). This is followed by 4 years of primary education, another 5 years in secondary education, leading towards the end of compulsory education.The inclusion of vocational subjects starts from lower secondary level. The current secondary education system enables students to have subject specialisation from the third year of studies at the age of 14. In 2011 a national 3-year Vocational Pilot Project was launched offering Vocational qualifications in 4 Vocational subjects in a number of state and non-state schools. Now students have the option of vocational home-grown subjects as optional subjects at Level 3 of the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). This way, vocational subjects have found their way back into compulsory education within standard secondary schools (rather than in specialised vocational schools). At post-compulsory level (MQF Levels 1 to 6) the main state institutions which provide VET are the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS). MCAST provides courses from MQF Level 1 to MQF Level 6 while ITS provide training up to MQF Level 5, which may lead to a continuation of a degree at MQF Level 6 at the University of Malta.

 

The establishment of the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) and its referencing to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) in 2009, was inevitably a concrete cornerstone towards the enhancement of VET. The MQF pushed forward parity of esteem between vocational education and general or academic education, and also made possible the permeability between VET and higher education which enhances lifelong learning. VET qualifications are now giving access to a number of courses at the higher levels of the MQF and also enabled VET training providers to link their qualifications to the MQF. VET in Malta is also providing opportunities for learners without any qualification to access and further their education through Initial VET (IVET) qualifications. IVET starts at the lowest level of the MQF (Level 1) and provides a variety of routes for tertiary education attainment.