The introduction of IT vocational education training (VET) in Maltese schools : the voice of the teachers

Abstract

VET subjects have been introduced in the Maltese educational system since not all students fit in the one-size-fits-all schooling system. Students might drop out of school at an early age and as a result, they end up doing dead-end jobs. Therefore, as described in My Journey, the aim behind vocational subjects was to have an alternate learning route to lower the number of early school leavers. This study explores the voice of VET IT teachers. The needs of vocational subjects are different from the needs required by traditional academic subjects and VET teachers can relate to what entails to be able to teach a vocational subject. VET teachers are asked to attend training courses however, when it comes to delivering lessons, teachers encounter several challenges and difficulties. This research makes use of a case study to investigate the experiences of VET IT teachers. Through the use of a case study, an in-depth description of the situation amongst VET IT teachers was explored. One-to-one interviews and a focus group were used to collect the data. Administrative work, hardware and software resources and dealing with a mixed ability class are only few of the encountered difficulties. Despite these challenges, this study shows that more than half of the interviewed teachers would like to continue teaching the subject. VET teachers perceived positive experiences whilst teaching the subject including keeping themselves up to date, helping students discover other qualities such as creativity, watch low achievers feel proud when achieving good marks and building a good relationship with the students. This research discovers how support received from the school’s administration together with sharing of resources and communication with other VET IT teachers contribute to the teachers’ enthusiasm and motivation towards the subject.