A total of 43 MCAST students were presented with certificates for their participating in the Leonardo da Vinci project “From apprentice student to entrepreneur”.

The project was aimed to offer work experience to MCAST students outside of Malta in a bid to improve their skills by placing them on work assignments overseas.

The project was set up by the parliamentary secretariat for small and medium enterprises and the self-employed in conjunction with MCAST and the ETC.

A total of e78,500 was allocated to fund the programme.

Speaking to the students when handing out certificates, Education Minister Louis Galea said: “The government is committed to doing all that is possible to help students by offering the best possible training in Malta and other countries. Work experience outside Malta allows students to better develop their skills,” he said.

Dr Galea pointed out that since the MCAST began to participate in the Leonardo da Vince programme, some 160 students had the opportunity to get work experience outside the country, while some 40 teachers have also benefitted.

Dr Galea said that through the Leonardo da Vinci programme, some Lm84,863 had been invested in the MCAST alone.

Parliamentary secretary Edwin Vassallo said that through this project, it was not only apprentices that were getting benefit, but also small and medium enterprises.

Dr Galea thanked the MCAST and ETC for their contribution and in particular those companies where apprentices were allowed three weeks off to go for their work experience.

There are currently 648 apprentices in the MCAST ESTS (Extended Skills Traineeship Scheme) and TAS (Technician Apprenticeship Scheme).

Apprentices were sent out on placement in the UK, France, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands.