The Cabinet of Ministers approved a new five-year strategy for the Public Service with the ultimate vision of a service of excellence. This was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela at a press conference marking the 5th anniversary of the Institute for Public Services.

The Prime Minister said the new strategy proposed by the Public Service would be based on three pillars: People, Technology, and Service. These will embrace the principles of quality, accountability, and sustainability, which principles are also shared by the government. He added that the Public Service not only has a vision of where it wants to go but also what needs to be done.

The Prime Minister described the Public Service as a leader in various sectors in our country, among others with the first Remote Working Policy, and in the environmental sector with the study to convert the whole fleet of Public Service vehicles to electric ones. He concluded that these reforms in the Maltese Public Service led our country to be chosen by an international publishing house to serve as case-study for other countries.

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said that just as the Institute for Public Services has been instrumental in the renewal and reforms undertaken in the Public Service in recent years, it will remain an integral part of the implementation of the new strategy towards a service of excellence.

He mentioned how previously there was a gap between the training element and the needs of the Public Service, and that IPS was the first institution to combine these elements with the Public Service vision. Today, IPS issues a comprehensive list of courses through a prospectus, while regularly sponsors public officers to make the next leap. The Head of the Public Service mentioned how in these five years, around 400 workers were given sponsorships, while around 500 students were given a traineeship or apprenticeship.

In this new academic year, IPS is offering 270 courses and have so far received 2,500 applications for the first half of the year. As of this academic year, IPS will also have its first full-time students at bachelor level. These will join the Public Service upon successful completion of the course.

At the end of the conference, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar unveiled a memorial of the occasion, designed by MCAST students.