I refer to the article Myth’ that Malta’s tertiary education is lowest in EU is finally exploded published in your paper on Thursday 17 June.

The ending age of full-time compulsory education in most EU member states is age 16. Although according to the Eurydice Network, Hungary and the Netherlands are the only countries that have officially raised the ending age to 18, other EU member states are also considering raising compulsory schooling to age 17 or 18. The UK is a case in point. The duration of full-time compulsory education in years may vary between 9 to 13 years depending at what age states classify the start of ‘formal’ education.

The main point raised by MQC’s CEO during the seminar was that as a result of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) the methodology for the gathering of statistics in education will change in the coming years. As a matter of fact, over the last months MQC, NSO, the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders (including among others MCAST, ETC, the University of Malta) have taken the initiative to align the ISCED levels (International Standard for the Classification of Education – a tool to collect education statistics) to those of the Malta Qualifications Framework.

The purpose of this exercise is to capture and incorporate all learning activities that take place after compulsory education in the various public and private institutions and to ensure that Malta’s education statistics will from now on, realistically reflect the developments in education at all levels. Ireland (which like Malta has also referenced its framework of qualifications to the European Qualifications Framework) is carrying out a similar exercise. The CEO’s belief is that as a result of Malta’s alignment of its framework of qualifications to the EQF, Malta’s education statistics will be positively affected.

Valerie Attard

Communications Manager, MQC