Malta Professional and Vocational Qualifications Regulations,

L.N. 215 of 2000

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES ACT

(CAP. 343)

Malta Professional and Vocational Qualifications Regulations,

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 41 of the

Employment and Training Services Act, the Minister of Education, in

consultation with the Employment and Training Corporation and the

Minister for Social Policy, has made the following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Malta Professional Citation and

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2000 .

commencement.

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(2) These regulations shall come into force on such date as

the Minister responsible for education may by notice in the gazette

appoint, and different dates may be so appointed for different provisions

or different purposes of these regulations.

(Regulation 11)

Competence Levels

Levell

The holder of a qualification at this level will be able to perfonn relatively

simple work requiring skills that are fairly quickly acquired in an out-of-school training

programme.

Level 2

The holder of a qualification at this level will be able to engage in a specific

activity with the capacity to use the instruments and techniques relating thereto without

guidance.

Level 3

The holder of a qualification at this level will be able to participate in technical

work which can be perfonned independently and, or which entails executive and co-

ordination duties.

Level 4

The holder of a qualification at this level will be able to work generally in an

autonomous or in an independent way to assume, design and, or manage and, or shoulder

administrative responsibilities. The holder is not generally required to master the

scientific bases of the various areas concerned.

LevelS

The holder of a qualification at this level will be able to perfonn an autonomously

pursued vocational activity as an employer or as a self-employed person, entailing a

mastery of the scientific bases of the occupation.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

Interpretation.

"Act" means the Employment and Training Services Act;

"Assessment Boards" means such Professional and Vocational

Standards Assessment Boards as are mentioned in regulation 9 of

these regulations;

"Corporation" means the Employment and Training

Corporation established by article 5 of the Act;

"Council" means the Malta Professional and Vocational

Qualifications Awards Council, established by regulation 3 of these

regulations;

"Development Boards" means such Professional and

Vocational Standards Development Boards as are mentioned in

regulation 8 of these regulations;

"training agency" means any person, institution or body

corporate that provides services of a training or educational nature

that lead to the attainment of professional or vocational

qualifications as provided by these regulations.

(1) There shall be established a Council to be called the Malta

Professional and Vocational Qualifications Awards Council having such

functions as set out in these regulations.

(2) The Council shall consist of eleven members appointed

by the Minister responsible for education in consultation with the

Minister responsible for employment and shall be composed as follows

(a)

a chairperson with the relevant experience;

(b) a person to represent the Corporation who shall act as

deputy chairperson;

(c)

an officer from the Education Division;

(d) a person to represent the Malta College ofArts, Science

and Technology;

(e)

a person to represent the University of Malta;

(f) two persons who in the opinion of the Minister

responsible for education adequately represent vocational

education and training institutions or professional bodies;

(g)

two persons representing employers;

(h)

two persons representing trades union.

The members shall be appointed for a period not

(3)

exceeding three years and each member may be eligible for re-

appointment.

(4) The Council shall meet as often as may be necessary or

expedient. The quorum of the Council shall be four members including

the chairperson.

(5) In the absence of consensus, decisions of the Council

shall be taken by a majority of votes of the members present and voting;

and in the case of an equality of votes the chairperson, or in his absence

the deputy chairperson, shall exercise a casting vote.

(6) Any vacancy among the members of the Council shall

not invalidate the proceedings of the same Council.

The objectives of the Council shall be

Objectives of the

Council.

(a) to establish and maintain a framework for the

development, recognition and award of professional and vocational

qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skill or competence

to be acquired by learners;

(b) to promote and facilitate life-long learning access,

transfer and progression;

(c) to foster the recognition abroad of professional and

vocational certificates awarded in Malta under these

regulations.

The functions of the Council shall be to do all things Functions of the

(1)

necessary or expedient in accordance with these regulations to further Council.

the objectives of the Council.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subregulation (1)

of this regulation, the Council shall

(a) establish the policies and criteria on which the framework

of qualifications shall be based;

(b) approve and publish national standards of knowledge

and skills competence;

(c) determine and publish the procedure to be implemented

by training agencies offering programmes of education and training

for access, transfer and progression;

(d) ensure that such standards and procedures as are referred

to in these regulations are being implemented;

(e) accredit vocational education and training programmes

delivered by training agencies;

endorse certificates awarded by training agencies;

(f)

(g)

keep and issue official records of certificates awarded;

(h) promote the National Professional and Vocational

Qualifications System;

regulate the procedure of the Boards established by it;

(i)

G) perform such other functions as the Minister responsible

for education in consultation with the Minister responsible for

employment may advise from time to time.

(3) In the exercise of its functions the Council shall ensure

full and proper consultation with the. authorities responsible for

professional and vocational education and training.

The publication of standards and procedures referred to

(4)

in this regulation shall be in such form and manner as the Council deems

(5) In the exercise of its functions as well as in the

implementation of the relevant standards and procedures, the Council

shall ensure adequate transparency, consistency and fairness.

(1) There shall be established within the Corporation a

Secretariat to service the Council.

(2)

The functions of the Secretariat shall be -

to co-ordinate the work of the Development Boards~

(a)

(b)

to co-ordinate the work of the Assessment Boards;

(c) to maintain a database of national standards of

professional and vocational competencies at specific levels~

(d) to maintain a national database of persons who have

been awarded National Professional and Vocational Qualifications;

(e) to provide general administrative and secretariat services

to the Council.

(1) The Head of the Secretariat shall be the Executive

Secretary who shall be an officer nominated for such purpose by the

Chairperson of the Corporation and appointed by the Council.

(2) The Executive Secretary shall ex officio be the Secretary

of the Council.

(3) The Executive Secretary shall have the duty and the right

to attend and be heard at all meetings of the Council but shall not have

a right to vote.

(1) There shall be established by the Council a number of Profes.sional and

Professional and Vocational Standards Development Boards as may be ~:=~

required.

Development

Boards.

(2) Members of the Development Boards shall be appointed

for a period of two years and each member may be eligible for re-

appointment.

(3)

The functions of the Development Boards shall be

Functions.

(a) to develop professional and vocational standards of

competence structured on a series of progressive knowledge, skills

and attitude competencies;

(b) to review such standards of competence regularly so as

to reflect scientific and technological developments and labour

market relevance;

(c) to organise regular consultative sessions with interested

social partners with the aim of ensuring relevance;

(d) to submit such standards of competence for approval

by the Council;

(e)

to liase with the Assessment Boards.

(4) The Development Boards shall each be responsible for Composition.

particular areas of competence and shall be composed of

(a) a chairperson having knowledge of the competence

requirements of jobs;

(b) two persons with relevant qualifications and experience

from leading teaching and, or training institutions;

(c) two persons representing industrial or commercial

establishments, professional bodies or other entities who are

competent in the area of competence to be developed.

(1) There shall be established by the Council a number of Prof~sionaland

Professional and Vocational Standards Assessment Boards as may be ~:~

required.

Assessment Boards.

(2)

The functions of the Assessment Boards shall be

Functions.

(a) to design assessment procedures appropriate to the

particular areas of competence;

(b) to conduct assessments to ensure the attainment of

standards of professional and vocational competence;

(c)

to ensure rigorous and consistent assessment;

(d) to submit a detailed report after every assessment session

to the Council.

(3)

The Assessment Boards shall be composed of

(a) a chairperson having knowledge of the competence

required of the job;

(b) one person with relevant qualifications and experience

from leading teaching and, or training institutions;

(c) one person representing industrial or commercial

establishments, professional bodies or other entities and who are

knowledgeable in the competence being assessed.

(4) Members of the Assessment Boards shall be appointed

for a period of two years and each member may be eligible for re-

appointment.

(1) The National Professional and Vocational Qualifications

Certificates shall be endorsed by the Council and issued by the training

agencies to those persons enrolled with them. In all other cases the

certificates shall be issued by the Corporation and endorsed by the

Council.

(2) In all cases mentioned in subregulation (1) hereof

certificates shall be issued following successful assessment by either

the appropriate Assessment Board or by the training agency delivering

training programmes accredited by the Council.

The Malta Professional and Vocational Qualifications shall

be classified in five levels of competence as indicated in the Schedule

to these regulations, describing the skills and knowledge needed to be

able to perform work at a specific level effectively. The Council shall

be guided by these levels in classifying national standards of knowledge

and skills competence for each occupational area.

Non-applicability of

These regulations shall not apply to those occupations the these

regulations.

exercise of which requires the granting of a warrant or of a certificate,

or a registration in accordance with any other law.

The National Occupational Qualifications Regulations, 1997 Repeals L.N. 117

ofl997.

are hereby repealed.