Several companies and industries gave out a prize for every subject. The principal awarded the hardest working students in the six institutes while the President’s award went to the students who showed the best leadership qualities.

The Education, Youth and Employment Ministry gave prizes to the students with the best yearly results.

These prizes not only give the students an incentive to worker harder, but they also emphasise the important link between the college and the job market, said Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea at the prize-giving ceremony.

He expressed satisfaction at the fact that companies and industries have taken an interest in vocational education. The industry must continue to lend its support since it will be contributing to the education of its future employees, he said.

Minister Galea referred to the National Action Plan (NAP) for employment and said that EU members are constantly developing the job market to promote job creation. The NAP for employment will address post-secondary, tertiary and adult education.

Dr Galea said that students must be encouraged to continue their studies. By offering young people more opportunities, the quality of workers will be raised and therefore

guarantee a sound economic future, he said.

MCAST was a good investment in Malta’s education division, said the minister, and during the last few months more has been invested to provide the teachers and students with better resources and facilities.