The contribution of the H.M. dockyard apprenticeship scheme to the training and education of the Maltese workforce

Abstract

This study focuses on the H.M. Dockyard School in Malta, and the contribution of the Dockyard Technical Education and Apprenticeship scheme to the training and education of various skills of the Maltese workforce over the last 150 years. It highlights the contribution of the British Navy to this objective detailing the development and diversification of the Maltese workforce through the further education and training. This functioned to create a workforce which could meet the demands of the British Naval Forces in Malta. The work includes examples of projects undertaken at the H.M. Dockyard by its ex apprenticeses including shore and afloat projects, cranes, docks, and pump houses, as well as other major projects with a bias towards Major Civil Engineering Projects, such as the building of docks and jetties. Some of these workers throughout the years, influenced by this Dockyard training, contributed to the. development of society. These included surgeons, bank managers, power station personnel, communications personnel, private industrialists, politicians, religious members, self-employed, and personnel working in privately-owned Dockyards, such as Cassar and Bezzina Ship Repair Yard. The Research focuses on the H.M. Dockyard Technical College Malta and its curriculum which included: • The standards of calculations, • The depth of subjects taught; • The examination papers; • The Equal Opportunity Scheme; • The management courses;