An acquaintance told me that a meeting was held some days ago for former employees of Kalaxlokk because they seem to have some residual claims on the government.

I was surprised because I did not know Kalaxlokk or some version of it is still alive. I thought it was something out of history books, from the time of Mintoff’s push for the industrialisation of Malta which foundered after a short time.

Along with it there was also the birth of Bahhar u Sewwi, Air Malta and Sea Malta and others still. And of course Malta Shipbuilding and Malta Drydocks. Some are still going on, especially Air Malta with a history of success backing them. And Malta Shipbuilding of course gave us three sturdy ships that still ensure the link with Gozo. They cost the earth but it’s a pity they were not followed up. Still, people learned a lot from the experience.

It wasn’t hi-tech except Air Malta but rather rudimentary. The employees did not possess any high scholastic levels but the employment gave them the basis which later helped them in their lives.

Then everything was wound down when the Nationalists won. The trade schools were closed and instead a substitute called Systems of Knowledge was introduced with a technology section. Unfortunately I know of many instances where the students got their fathers to do it for them. Or some employee. The student learned nothing.

No alternative was introduced. The accent was on the Arts but not all students are made for the Arts. Malta’s overall development was skewed. And the future development was affected.

Today we have a generation that has only a dim idea of the arts, perhaps with a smattering of Gramsci, whereas many do not know the simplest of tasks like setting up an electric plug point or simple maintenance of the car.

Time and again international comparisons place us at the bottom of the scale not just on academic subjects such as Maths and Science but also on the practical tasks we will need later on in life. Girls finish school without learning anything about car maintenance where they may become enthusiastic learners. Boys finish school without learning to cook anything except an omelette. And boys and girls end up without learning about the joy of growing anything even on window sills or terraces.

It is sad to see students being made to cram, running around from one private lesson to the next when their time could be better spent.

The young people who joined Kalaxlokk so many years ago maybe did not do so to learn a skill but just to get a job. That was Mintoff’s carrot. Unfortunately Mintoff’s overall scheme implied statalism. A pity because it was easily removed. Other countries, such as the Northerners, who win in all international comparisons, include non-academic training as an integral part of the education.

Now that a certain liberalism seems to allow schools to branch out of the rigid schemes of old, they should experiment and wait for results.

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