First Skills Kits students receive certificates

Fourteen fifth form students from St Theresa College have successfully completed their first Skills Kits Programme at the MCAST Foundation College. Students received their certificates during an awarding ceremony held at MCAST Main Campus in the presence of Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment.

The Skills Kits, launched in October 2016, is an introductory level programme designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore different vocational areas and study at their own pace. It is made up of a number of short courses of 20 hours each, at Level 1 covering various vocational areas as well as personal and employability skills. The programme gives students the possibility to choose the combination of Skills Kits to study at any point in time.

This programme also lends itself very well to outreach as through a Skills Kit of 20 hours, a student could have a taster of the subject, which s/he might have never been exposed to as well as experience vocational education at MCAST. With this idea in mind, during the first term of the academic year 2016-2017, The Skills Kits was piloted as an outreach tool with two groups of fifth formers from St Theresa College. The students attended MCAST once a week to follow a Skills Kit and successfully completed the Skills Kit after a number of weeks.

The students thoroughly enjoyed their learning experience at MCAST having experienced hands-on practical work which will enable them to make informed decisions about areas they would be interested in furthering their studies in or sectors they would enjoy working in.

The Skills Kits are particularly designed to create a socially pleasant and healthy learning environment with space being given for nurturing bonds with fellow students and educators through hands-on work designed to attract students back to education, particularly but not only, vocational education and future employment.

The seven fifth form girls from Imriehel Secondary successfully completed a Skills Kit of Hairdressing and Beauty. This consisted of 20 hours where the students were introduced to basic knowledge of hair and facial care com- petences, such as procedures of shampooing and conditioning hair, cleansing of the face and make-up application. This Skills Kit also emphasised personal presentation and the importance of good communication in the hairdressing and beauty industry.

The seven fifth form boys from Sta Venera Secondary on the other hand, successfully completed a Skills Kit of Taking Part in Sport. In this Skills Kit, the students found out about sports activities available locally and the significant benefits of participating in such activities. The students also had the opportunity to try out and participate in different sporting activities at MCAST. Through these activities, students were encouraged to be more physically active and healthy, increase their confidence and self-esteem levels and develop teamwork as well as a wider range of personal and social skills.

The same two groups will be taking up another two Skills Kits this month before they finish fifth form. In the next academic year, they will then have the opportunity to continue other Skills Kits or take up any other course at MCAST according to each student’s qualifications.

For further details or advice contact MCAST on 2398 7777, 2398 7143 or email: shortcourses@mcast.edu.mt