All those who are involved in youth spheres are currently examining the Draft National Youth Policy (NYP) published by the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport (PSYS).

It is a policy based on the present legal state of affairs and the goals that need to be achieved. It tends to be superficial, as it never mentions the means by which these aims are supposed to be achieved.

One solution could be that of formulating a separate document in which the stakeholders, action plan, and target dates are set for every single aim of the policy.

The PSYS cannot make a single move to reach the aims established in the health sector without coordinating with the Ministry for Social Policy and other sectors. And even more so if no target dates are established, as none of the parties involved would be able to take the policy seriously.

In its reaction to the Draft NYP, the Labour Youth Forum (LYF) was spot on when it pointed out that it fell short of mentioning the housing challenges young are facing. It also did well to point out that while the PSYS is, rightly, encouraging e-learning, it also needs to widen its vision and consider the digital divide as a local challenge.

Another interesting suggestion made by the LYF was that of proposing full infrastructural accessibility for physically disabled persons within educational institutions as a policy aim – something the draft NYP did not mention.

There were also some shortcomings in the way the policy addressed the educational sector. I believe that more emphasis should have been placed on the need to transmit intercultural communication skills through the pedagogical system.

Malta now has migrants from Eastern Europe, ex-Yugoslavia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and the best way to harmonise our society would be to disseminate a sense of understanding of other cultures, religions and ethnic groups among our youngsters.

Finally, one hopes the government will not opt to create another agency to implement the policy. There are agencies in Malta that are highly beneficial to our society, but on the other hand I could mention others that have not had the same results.

A hands-on approach and good political will is key to implementing such policies.

Christopher Cutajar

SANTA LUCIJA