Alternattiva Demokratika deputy chairmen Mario Mallia and Stephen Cachia have said it is high time that qualifications of a technical nature are afforded equivalence in terms of status with their academic qualification counterparts.

This view was expressed during a consultation meeting held with the National Qualifications Council.

Mr Mallia and Mr Cachia expressed their satisfaction that Malta is one of the front-runners in the modelling of this

common European framework that would make equivalence of qualifications more possible across the European Union.

During the consultation meeting, the council’s chairman Charles Mizzi and acting CEO James Calleja explained the framework and its implications within the education system as a whole.

They also discussed improvements made to earlier efforts so that more flexibility and recognition of learning outcomes is achieved.

Mr Mallia and Mr. Cachia said Alternattiva Demokratika agreed with the proposed changes. They also mentioned the importance of giving more weight to the school leaving certificate, currently awarded at the end of secondary schooling, by making it more comprehensive rather than the narrow criteria adopted so far.

Both sides agreed that the aim of the exercise was not to exclude but rather to empower learners for further learning. The recognition of non-formal and informal learning was also an important aspect that both sides agreed needed to be taken into consideration for the framework to be more comprehensive.