Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/649887
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 MARCH 2016 Careers & Training XV CSR assists education and sports in vulnerable areas SPECIAL Eurobarometer 334 stated that there is a strong link across the EU member states between education and the amount of sport that people play. 64% of people who had left the educa- tion system by the age of 15 say they never play sport; this falls to 39% in the 16-19 group; and to 24% in the 20+ category. As higher levels or education are linked with better standards of liv- ing, the data suggests that more highly educated EU citizens equate physical fitness with quality of life. Living in a large household also provides greater opportunity for playing sport. 47% of people who live alone do no sport; but only 32% of people in a household of four or more say the same. People with financial problems are also far more likely to ignore sport than those who are better off. 56% of those who struggle to pay their bills do no sport whatsoever, as opposed to just 35% of people who almost never have difficulty meeting their financial obliga- tions. 38% of the Maltese respondents state that they never do sports while 14 % say they seldom do. This means that approximately 52% of the popula- tion is not active to sports. 49% of the Maltese say they do some physical activity on their way to school, to work, to shopping or to other errands. Only 3% of the Maltese respondents are members of sports clubs. This report was done in 2010. In 2011, Eurostat concluded that for those with parents with a low level of education, a persistence of a low level of education was observed in 73% of the respondents in Malta. Also, 26% of Maltese adults whose parents have a high level of education have a low level of education themselves. In other words, in 26% of Maltese families where the parents have a good level of education, their children are slid- ing down the educational ladder. The national Census reveals that the poorer working class localities register very low levels of tertiary education. These include Marsa, Bormla and Senglea where the percentage of university graduates is of less than 5%, and Hamrun and Qormi where only 7% have been to university. In the Cotton- era area, Birgu and Kalkara register a slightly higher percentage. These are indeed worrying links and scenarios which must be addressed. It may be concluded that these areas are still suffering from decades of distress and possibly due to lack of invest- ment in the area by Governments and private sector alike. In the recent years developments such as the Cottonera Marina, the Birgu Waterfront, the Dock one embellishment, the revival of the dockyard through Palumbo and possi- bly with the investment of the American University of Malta will give the area not only an economic development but also a general social generational change. Physical activity, financial stand- ing and education are clearly linked as seen from the above referred to studies. However, another reason may be that the education system in Malta, particularly at tertiary level, does not encourage sports activity. In fact, persons attending tertiary level of education enter into a momentum of studies and work activity that basically prohibits free time for physical edu- cation. It is a fact that most of Malta football players, give up their sports or reduce significantly when they get to University and MCAST level. This may be because of the fact that the educa- tion system does not offer recognition in this sense. Another factor is that there are no real motivational factors for persons to participate. It is no news that human beings need motivation and objectives to perform. Our sports sector certainly does not offer these. For example Malta remains with a poor football organisation with aims that are not precisely clear. The system does not encourage players or clubs to perform at their best. It does not incentivise in- vestors either. Recently, we have seen the white paper allowing clubs to make commercial use of concessions given to them but certainly there is a long way to go. Financial issues come out from the above and this is complement- ed by the fact that players need some monthly income to play at all levels due to financial pressures most have. Oth- erwise they exchange sports for a part time job. Malta's system remains de- pendent on the level of volunteers (who are all the more reducing in numbers) and that of the benevolent business persons that try to contribute to the community by sponsoring clubs. Yet again the system discourages these as well as it works against any form of financially sustainable structures. In spite of this, Malta still has some handful of benevolent business per- sons in certain industries that continue to fund our clubs. The leading industry in this sense seems to be the ship repair industry with three main compa- nies taking the lead. In fact, Bezzina Shipyard has been the main driver behind Hibernians FC with their tradi- tional derby rivals Tarxien Rainbows being headed by Cassar Ship Repair. On the other hand the main player in the ship repair industry that is Palumbo Shipyards has been helping two clubs in the aforementioned problematic area over the last five years that is Senglea Athletics and St Georges FC (Bormla). These two areas have significant is- sues which in this sense Palumbo has been assisting on various fronts that is by reviving a dead industry and there- fore by creating jobs apart from helping the sports clubs in the area. Indeed, opportunities are opening in the area whose effects will be seen at a later stage in the youngsters' life. Senglea FC, since the Palumbo spon- sorship in particular, has experienced a significant change in its level of play. In fact it has a chance for playoffs to play in premier league at the end of the season. This is encouraging and hope- fully the enthusiasm will grow to attract more youths from the area towards this sports. The vision would then be to use football to increase the level of education in the area. "Mente sana in corpo sano" (Healthy mind in a healthy body) and sport definitely is the driver in this. Whilst one hopes for a significant reform in the sports sector, which has been perpetually promised from one administration to the other at Govern- ment level but also at sports asso- ciation levels such as the MFA, one encourages more and more business entities to take the example of Palumbo shipyards in assisting localities which need a push to be pulled out from the social issues that have been with them for decades. The education system in Malta, particularly at tertiary level, does not encourage sports activity