Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/800760
20 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2017 Opinion O ne of the conclusions that gave me great satisfaction and pride at the Education Council held in Brussels recently, was the resolve to invest in Europe's youth through 'inclusion in diversity'. The decision as such, only highlights the needs and direction that the EU must continue working on. We must continue with the efforts that we have been relentlessly harping on and ensure that we turn policy into practice. This resolution generated a lot of interest and the discussion was very enlightening. Participants contributed to this debate by sharing their experiences and actions and it was generally agreed that inclusion should start from early stages and that there should be more emphasis on early childhood and care. This would help tackle early school leavers before they actually leave compulsory education. Schools must cater for the different skills that each individual student has. Teachers have a very important role and we must ensure that platforms for their continuous development are easily accessible. Digital education could facilitate new ways of learning and this emphasises the importance of students' participation in all educational programmes at all levels and this from the early stages. An important strategy is that of learning how to recognise the strong points of the children and help them analyse their potential. Ministers emphasised that there should be more European exchanges of students in order to help them get a general understanding of the EU environment. A mutual understanding and cooperation among all is needed now more than ever in order to enable us to face challenges both present and future, at national and European levels. The main aim of every education system should be to unite rather than divide and therefore we should seek that everyone is included. Although comprehensive school systems exist throughout European states, inequalities are still rising. Recently I wrote about deploying an innovative curriculum and increased collaboration with the relevant employers and stakeholders. Through our association with market leaders, we have introduced the concept of job exposure at an earlier age and opened up the possibilities of traineeships. We need to introduce a comprehensive education reform. Some schools are working on different autonomous packages and we will have to train our teachers to identify and improve certain diagnostic skills from as young an age as possible. The discussion on disadvantaged students was equally important. Areas with disadvantaged children have to be identified as early as possible and these areas have to be given priority and special assistance. The EU Commission CION states that inclusion should start from the early stages and that there should be more emphasis on early childhood and care. The Education Council discussed the contribution that education and training can make to social cohesion and the promotion of common European values, in the framework of the European Semester 2017. Ministers from the EU states addressed in particular possible measures to mitigate educational inequalities due to the socio- economic disparities, as shown by the 2015 PISA results. They also considered how the education and training programmes of the EU member states might be improved through the establishment of national and European objectives. There were a number of us who emphasized that education policies play a fundamental role in promoting inclusion. Respect for diversity in the European Union and the fundamental values of the EU and the European education model must be preserved. Ensuring inclusive high quality education should also be seen in a life-long perspective covering all aspects of education. Improving our education and training systems is critical, not only because it can generate economic benefits and reduce unemployment, but also because it promotes social mobility and remains one of the best means of preventing social exclusion. Education in itself cannot do all, it needs economic, social and financial support. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment I am shocked to discover that the health minister is continuing to gleefully pursue an agenda to privatise three of the taxpayers' valued hospitals – St Luke's, Karin Grech and Gozo General – despite the smokescreen of secrecy, lack of consultation and controversy surrounding the said contracts, which were signed by disgraced ex-health minister Konrad Mizzi. I am also saddened by the news that two private companies, VGH and Barts, will be milking the Maltese taxpayer (and the resources built up by the taxpayer over the year) for money, in spite of no reliable promise of benefit for the people of Malta and Gozo. Should a government serve its people, or should a government use its people as pawns to allow private companies to make money? Serious concerns have been raised by unions, doctors, other healthcare professionals, healthcare students, and most recently by 6th form students from Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form Centre in Victoria, Gozo, about the impact these privatisation deals will have on their services. A spokesperson for Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, which represents technical and engineering staff in these hospitals said: "I still cannot understand how VGH is ready to operate without having presented the contract in public. By contract, I mean the uncensored version of the agreement" (Malta Independent, 05/02/17) Doctors, like the Medical Association of Malta's Secretary General have raised concerns: "If we are introducing the American model, whereby profits come before anything else, patients could suffer" (Times of Malta 13/03/17) Medical students have raised concerns about the negative effects privatisation will have on medical education "The repercussions of the privatisation of medical education in Malta, courtesy of Barts and all those facilitating them, will be insidious and will set the stage for further similar transgressions over time. The effects won't be felt by us right now but by future generations" (Times of Malta 04/03/17) Gozitan 6th form students have raised concerns about the fact that Barts Medical School will be occupying their school's buildings due to delays in constructing their own facilities: "We are particularly concerned about the lack of space. We already have limited facilities - particularly the library, laboratory and other amenities. No one is telling us what is going on, and all we heard is that this was decided by the ministry in Malta" (Times of Malta 16/03/17) It is clear as daylight that many people from many spheres of Maltese and Gozitan society are deeply concerned by the ongoing, secretive, privatisation deals that the Health Minister is pursuing. The entire population stands to lose out if our health system is mis-managed - this issue must be brought to prominence. All responsible Maltese and Gozitans must start talking about and questioning this dubious initiative. Do we want our healthcare privatised? Has privatisation of healthcare worked well in other countries? Are we happy with what we know about VGH and their mysterious role in these three hospitals? How much are Maltese and Gozitan people willing to sacrifice in order to allow Barts and VGH to line their pockets with taxpayers' funds? It is time to wake up. It is time for the ministers involved to be honest. It is time for society to unite and ask questions. These are our hospitals, our healthcare workers, our patients. We are them and they are us. We will fight for them. Alexander Clayman is a medical student and a member of the Democratic Party executive The fight against exclusion Wake up or lose your healthcare Evarist Bartolo Alexander Clayman The Office of the Attorney General Agency is receiving applications for posts in the grade of Higher Clerical Officers. The selected candidates will be employed for a fixed term on a full-time basis and will be required to work for a minimum of forty hours per week. Applicants must be in possession of a recognized qualification at MQF level 5 with minimum of 60 ECTS/ECVETS in Legal Studies, Public Administration, Management, Human Resources, Accounts or a related area, or an appropriate, recognised, comparable qualification. Letters of application, including a detailed CV, should be submitted and addressed to: The Administration (JobsPlus Permit 43/2017) Office of the Attorney General, The Palace, Valletta or Email: ag@gov.mt by not later than Thursday 30th March 2017 noon. POSTS OF HIGHER CLERICAL OFFICERS AT THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL