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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 JULY 2014 3 News MIRIAM DALLI JURGEN BALZAN THE Foundation for Educational Services approached 560 students currently enrolled at MCAST and offered them a part-time employ- ment contract to work at centres hosting summer schools Klabb 3-16 and Skola Sajf. The MCAST students are current- ly studying social care, childcare and sports. According to a spokesperson for the ministry of education, both uni- versity and MCAST students were recruited to work in the centres. The opening of the public summer schools was delayed by a week af- ter the FES realised it did not have enough staff to man the centres and take care of 10,800 children. "Both university and MCAST stu- dents were recruited to work within Klabb 3-16 and Skolasajf. In addition to these, staff working in schools, such as Kindergarten Assistants, Learning Support Assistants, Childcare Assistants and teachers, have been recruited too. All those recruited to work within Klabb 3-16 and Skola Sajf centres are offered a definite part-time employment con- tract," a spokesperson confirmed. The spokesperson explained that in previous years, due to a much smaller demand, the FES only ap- proached university students. "Due to the record-breaking de- mand for this year's service, students from the Institute of Community Services at MCAST, who total 560, were also approached. These stu- dents come from the areas of social care, childcare and sports within MCAST," the spokesman said. "The conditions and roles of MCAST students are the same as those of university students in pre- vious years." Education Minister Evarist Bar- tolo confirmed that Skola Sajf would be fully operational by Monday, af- ter the ministry identified the nec- essary resources to man the school, which is set to host 10,800 pupils. The opening of the centres was postponed by a week after the FES confirmed that not enough teachers and staff were available. This year, Klabb 3-16 and Skola Sajf joined forces in a bid to increase opening hours and offer more af- fordable prices for summer schools, however Bartolo explained that the FES had failed to make the neces- sary preparations. The minister said it was unaccept- able that parents were only informed of the problems on Sunday evening, 12 hours before the opening of the centres. Bartolo said he would rather work with persons who are candid and honest when they encounter dif- ficulties: "You cannot say that eve- rything is fine when it clearly wasn't the case." A ministerial inquiry will be held. He also explained that up to 200 teachers and staff members had dropped out at the last minute be- cause of logistical problems which would have seen teachers running centres alone. Technology 'must be integrated' in educational system Addressing a seminar for teachers attending a training course on the use of tablets, the education min- ister said the biggest challenge was integrating the use of technology, such as tablets, with the learning outcome framework, the pedagogy of teaching and all other aspects of education. "Technology will not miraculously resolve the shortcomings in our educational system, however it is a reality which must be integrated into the system," Bartolo said, add- ing that today's children are digital natives and "they look at the world from a different angle." By the beginning of the 2015-16 scholastic year, all schoolchildren will receive a free computer tablet. Bartolo admitted that technology also has its downsides: "However there is no alternative and we can- not turn schools into monasteries for cloistered nuns and keep tech- nology out. But on the other hand we cannot put our guard down." 13 local and international industry partners have responded to a call for proposals and will be loaning their tablets and providing their software solutions free of charge for evalua- tion in schools. Their investment is calculated at around €200,000 and they are pro- viding popular brands such as Acer, Apple, Google Nexus, Haier, Intel, LearnPad, Lenovo, and Samsung. SAVIOUR BALZAN PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat is leading a high-powered delegation to the Chinese capital, Beijing, for a three-day visit during which the Mal- tese government will be eager to take advantage of China's willingness to invest in Malta. The Maltese delegation includes deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and the PM's chief of staff, Keith Schembri. The purpose of the visit is to sign a five-year memorandum of under- standing (MOU) with the Chinese government. It will be the longest ever agreement signed with a Euro- pean Union member state, according to government sources. Relations between the two countries have improved over the past months, as Muscat spearheads more active bi- lateral contact with China. The Chi- nese, on their part, have shown active interest in investing in Malta. The few media representatives ac- companying the Prime Minister have not yet been given an insight into the finer details of the memorandum of understanding. Sources close to the Prime Minister said the agreement includes several new investment opportunities be- yond the present Chinese involve- ment in the energy sector. The MOU will probably seal a Chi- nese shareholding presence in the Maltese energy sector – a commercial development which was questioned by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil when the matter arose earlier in Mus- cat's first year of government. The agreement – and its finer de- tails – was captained by Schembri and his team, following tough nego- tiations with the Chinese side. The Prime Minister is expected to meet Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, this afternoon. Li Keqianq, 59, is an economist by profession and was appointed Premier of the State Council last year. The agreement will be signed in the Great Hall of the People this af- ternoon. The event is highly formal, with little or no improvisation from either the Maltese delegation or the Chinese representatives. After the Beijing signing, Joseph Muscat and his delegation are ex- pected to visit the Eco-forum in Gui- yang, a three-hour flight from the Chinese capital. In Guiyang, Muscat will be meeting Vice-President Li Yanchou. Muscat is one of the few heads of government at this 'international' fo- rum. He will be delivering a speech and will also intervene in a forum on 'Trade Cooperation between coun- tries in Eurasia.' Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and former German Chancel- lor Gerhard Schroeder will also be attending this forum. The Maltese delegation also in- cludes Labour MP Deo Debattista and the head of government commu- nications, Kurt Farrugia. 560 MCAST students approached after Skola Sajf organisational fiasco Muscat in Beijing to sign Memorandum of Understanding with China Education Minister lambasts 'unacceptable' handling of Skola Sajf opening, says centres to open on Monday Malta-China agreement to map out Chinese investment in Malta over the next five years – the longest ever agreement signed with an EU member state Two suspects apprehended after robbery JOHN PISANI TWO men were arrested by the po- lice shortly af ter they are thought to have robbed a premises in Mel- lieha yesterday morning. The men were allegedly planning more break-ins in the area but were stopped and held by members of the Rapid Inter vention Unit. Mellieħa residents were f ull of praise for the police's timely inter- vention. According to one of the residents, the arrests were made shortly before noon af ter the t wo men acted suspiciously. Police sources confirmed that a call was made raising the alarm about "suspicious-looking men" in Triq il-Qortin. Two units from the RIU arrived minutes later and ap- prehended the men who were car- r ying a bag reportedly f ull of stolen goods. One of the thieves was arrested in Triq L . New ton, the second was captured af ter tr ying to make a get away. Police found jeweller y and other valuables among the stolen goods. Other objects, such as a large screwdriver, were also found in a field, allegedly af ter one of the robbers threw them away when he saw the police. Investigations are ongoing. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council, will meet Joseph Muscat today Education Minister Evarist Bartolo addresses a seminar for teachers focusing on the use of digital tablets

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