Summer school for kids with Disabilities in Gozo gets boost

Jun 15 2023

An agreement has been reached among the Ministry for Gozo, the Foundation for Educational Services, the Support Agency, and the Voice for Inclusion Association Gozo to enhance services for students with disabilities during the summer months in Gozo.

The agreement’s details were announced during a visit to the Sannat Special Unit by Minister Clifton Grima (Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research, and Innovation), Minister Clint Camilleri (Minister for Gozo), and Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli (Minister for Inclusion, Volunteering, and Consumer Rights).

The Sannat Special Unit is part of the Gozo College, which offers a Summer School service through the Foundation for Educational Services (FES).

Up until now, two services have been provided simultaneously in Gozo for students with disabilities: one by FES at the Sannat Unit and another funded by the Ministry for Gozo and the Support Agency, operated by Voice for Inclusion Gozo.

Minister Clifton Grima emphasized that this agreement will integrate the two services, combining resources to provide the best possible experience for students. The aim is to optimize resource utilization and establish an excellent model of collaboration among different government entities.

The Sannat Special Unit exemplifies genuine inclusion in education. Educators at the unit work diligently with students who have learning difficulties to ensure they receive the same level of support as their peers.

Minister Clint Camilleri expressed gratitude to the ministers involved, recognizing the importance of such programs in Gozo. He stated that, for the third consecutive year, the service is being offered to enable children with disabilities in Gozo to develop and have the opportunity to attend Summer School like their peers. This commitment ensures that children truly feel equal.

Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli described the agreement as the culmination of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting greater inclusion in the community for individuals with disabilities.

She emphasized that every person, regardless of age or ability, should receive the necessary support to enhance their opportunities. The agreement builds upon the work carried out by the non-governmental organization Voice for Inclusion in Gozo over the past years, demonstrating the government’s trust in voluntary organizations.

This year, SkolaSajf (Summer School) will be provided by primary schools across the state and five resource centers in Malta and Gozo from Monday to Friday.

The service will be available from July 12th to August 11th and from August 21st to September 7th. While SkolaSajf operates from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, extended services will be offered to working parents at selected centers from 7 am to 8:30 am and from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

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€1,850 A Month For 40.6 Hours A Week: Average Maltese Worker

Jun 15 2023

According to newly released information by the National Statistics Office, the average annual basic salary varied from €2,995 among managers to €1,189 among elementary occupations.

The Labour Force Survey estimates indicated that, during the first quarter of this year, total employment stood at 291,756, accounting for 63% of the population aged 15 and over.

Meanwhile, unemployed persons stood at 8,585, or 1.9%, while inactive persons totalled at 163,113, or 35.2%.

‘The activity rate for the quarter under review was estimated at 80.4 per cent with the highest rate recorded among persons aged 25 to 54 (91.5%)’.

On average, out of every 100 persons aged between 15 and 64 years, 78 were employed. The male employment rate for this age bracket was 83.8%, whereas for females it was at 71.4%.

The 25 and 34 year age bracket for males and females had the largest share of employed persons.

Meanwhile, self employed persons accounted for 15% of all persons with a main job. The majority of employed persons worked on a full time basis, amounting to 256,592.

35,164 had a part time job as their primary employment, with full-timers usually working, on average, 40.6 hours.

Part timers worked 21.5 hours per week. In the first quarter of 2023, employed persons actually worked 37.4 hours per week, 0.1 hours more when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

‘The average monthly basic salary of employees for the first quarter of 2023 was estimated at €1,848. The highest basic salary was recorded in the Financial and insurance activities sector. Average monthly salaries varied from €1,189 among persons employed in elementary occupations to €2,995 among managers’.

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Maltese athletes celebrate GSSE victories in Valletta

Jun 15 2023

As Maltese athletes celebrated their Games of the Small States of Europe achievements yesterday evening, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that €5 million will be invested into the National Development and Social Fund.

The Prime Minister, alongside Minister for Sport and Education Clifton Grima, announced the investment which is set to be handed to sport federations following an agreement between the NDSF and SportMalta.

This year saw Team Malta breaking a record of medals won with 97 awarded to the island’s athletes in total — 38 gold medals, 30 silver medals and 29 bronze medals.

This comes after the Maltese Olympic Committee was awarded €4.9 million in the run-up to the games, with athletes who win gold medals also being awarded €10,000 for each one achieved.

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Two cows escape onto road in Mtarfa

Jun 15 2023

According to ONE News, two cows escaped from a farm late Wednesday evening in Imtarfa, joining road traffic as they went for a stroll.

The cows were spotted walking in the direction of Rabat, with ONE News confirming that their owner quickly retrieving the escapees shortly after.

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A video surfaced online shows the cows walking in a residential area and entering what seems to be a passageway in a block of houses.

Did you spot these cows?

Video credit is unknown – please inform us if you require credit.

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