A career guidance policy and strategy for compulsory schooling in Malta

Abstract

This document intends to re-launch career guidance within the Maltese compulsory education system by clarifying the role of career guidance, offering recommendations on the setting up of an adequate career guidance infrastructure, and describing how these services can be carried out in a more professional way. The document is based on various sources including secondary data and quantitative and qualitative empirical research. Career guidance can be defined as “services and activities intended to assist individuals of any age and at any point throughout their lives, to make educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers”. An analysis of the present career guidance system reveals that many useful services are being offered within the Maltese educational system. However, several structural and procedural weaknesses are also apparent. The policy proposals in this document are collected under the three headings of organisational structure, career education, and quality standards. Organisational Structure - The career services should be composed of two main complementary mechanisms, one operating within the educational system, and one complementary of it. Within the educational system, a new structure for career professionals should be developed. At the highest level, this system should be administered by the head of the Career Guidance Services. At College level, there should be College Career Coordinators who integrate within multi-disciplinary teams to offer support services to schools. At the school level, there should be Career Advisors who coordinate guidance provisions and organise career-oriented activities. A National Career Guidance Centre (NCGC) responsible for sustaining career guidance services in Malta should be set up complementary to the educational system. The NCGC should include a research unit, a career information unit, and a quality audit unit. The centre should become the centre of excellence for career guidance in Malta. Career Education - There should be a developmental career education programme beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout life. Career education should be delivered in all primary and secondary schools, starting in Year 4. It should be a subsumed programme included in Personal and Social Development (PSD), which should be transformed into Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD). The PSCD lessons in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms should be increased to 2 lessons per week per form. Quality Standards - High quality standards are needed to ensure that clients get the best possible service. In order to achieve this, there needs to be adequately qualified and experienced staff possessing professional competencies. Career service providers should develop and maintain a Quality Assessment System (QAS). NCGC should regularly monitor career-related services at national level. This document can only be effective if it is complemented and sustained by other related policies and strategies. The proposals in this document should be connected to a lifelong learning policy that directs all education and training.