We live in a society that values education, and indeed it has been the pride honour of our country that education is free for all to follow up till University years. Malta is a country that invests in its people especially its youth. Yet not all of our young people make it in education. Some are ending their school years without even the ability to read. Recently I had the opportunity to discuss education with Fr. Vincent Magri SJ, Director of the Jesuit run Paolo Freire Institute.
Fr. Magri has highlighted the issue of “NEETs: Not in Education, Employment, or Training” who according to Minister Bartolo as stated in an article that appeared later last year in a local newspaper, there are around 7,000 young persons classified as NEETS within the age bracket of 18-24. These people practically finish schooling without any skills and any jobs and could to a certain extant become a burden to society. Even worst, most of them are not even conscious of their predicament.
This situation is worrying and impinging on the government who Fr. Magro insists that s making several efforts in addressing this problem like the setting up of special services, ALP and programs in MCAST. However despite all these efforts, the problem persists. This is due to the fact that most of those who fall in this category are caught in a social problem that starts within their original family unit. Somehow our educational system for all its positive merits is passing them by. The way it stands education in Fr. Magri’s opinion punishes the needy. Those whose life has not been easy whose childhood lacks financial and emotional stability are left out end up uneducated and unable to find jobs. Something has to be done.
So the solution must start in kinder classes if possible, from the very beginning. Fr. Magri proposes a program of intensive, regular and creative therapy that would involve sessions once a week with professional child psychologists and other experts throughout the scholastic year. He also suggests an approach based on nurture classes whose approach must be creative. Fr. Magri’s proposal to any politician is that we, as policy makers, invest more in this sector, a good budget now might seem a large cost, but this could be a long term investment as those falling into this category can in time be reduced and through their employment they can benefit society as a whole, otherwise we will keep on living up to what recent surveys show that we are amongst the countries that have most NEETs in Europe.
Fr. Magri however is not just one who dreams ideas out of nowhere, but a practical man who as Director of the Paolo Freire Institute is making an important contribution in the fight against illiteracy in Malta. Insisting that his institute is working closely with the Żejtun Local Council and the Directorate of lifelong learning, he described how every Wednesday coaching is giving to pupils and students who are unable to benefit from our educational system. Besides a program of one on one coaching is also given. However in line with the idea that more than just an educational program, a system of therapy aimed at healing these young people so that they can then be educated is put into practice.
So the Paolo Freire Institute has put into practice a program made up of three forms of therapy given on a weekly basis for thirty weeks:
A. Drama therapy in which students express their emotions through the art of drama;
B. Hydrotherapy which involves visits to a pool were students are thought to build confidence in themselves;
C. Emotional Therapy in which students are helped to learn to articulate their emotions.
Besides working with minors the Paolo Freire Institute provides programs for adults who have missed out on education in life. People thought basic reading and writing in Maltese and English as well as the use of computers. All in all, this institute shows a vision of the human being who through knowledge is freed from his/her social constraints.
Perhaps what summed up the vision espoused by the Paolo Freire Institute was Fr Vincent Magri’s answer to what constituted a success for him and the Institute he runs. His reply was a straight one: “If someone comes and tells me that he has learned to write something as simple as a sentence, that is success for me.” His final message was an appeal to provide to these people an opportunity, a message towards a more inclusive approach within a greater society for their good and the common good.
This reality should highlight the need for further efforts towards those who are on the fringe of our educational system. It is my opinion that politicians should, whilst favouring the common good, strive to alleviate those who somehow are being left out. I am not accusing or saying that there is no effort done, by this administration, nor am I pointing fingers towards the previous one. They both strived to facilitate education for everyone. But my point as a prospective policy maker, I understand that it is never enough when it comes to reaching out to those who are staying outside the educational system for reasons that are beyond them. Reaching out for these people should not be just a publicity exercise for politicians but an essential duty, a duty I am willing to shoulder.
