National Skills Council (Establishment) Order 2016

L.N. 278 of 2016

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

National Skills Council (Establishment) Order 2016

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 131 of the

Education Act, the Prime Minister has made the following Order:-

The title of this Order is the National Skills Council

(Establishment) Order, 2016.

For the purposes of this Order, unless the context

otherwise requires -

"the Act" means the Education Act;

"the Council" shall mean the National Skills Council established

by virtue of this Order;

"lifelong learning" has the same meaning assigned to it by

article 63 of the Act;

"the Minister" means the Minister responsible for education.

The objects of this Order is to establish the National Skills

Council.

There shall be a Council, to be known as the National

Skills Council, which shall be autonomous and which shall carry out

functions related to labour market preparation and skills and shall

serve as a main driver in these fields.

The affairs and activities of the Council shall be under the

direction of the Board and shall be dealt with by the members of the

Board and for this purpose shall be represented by the Chairperson

who shall be able to speak and act on its behalf.

The functions of the Council shall be to

(a)

involve representatives of the labour market in the

planning of labour market preparation;

(b)

study, propose and plan strategies and training to

reduce shortages in labour skills, improve skills and meet

market demands;

(c)

involve stakeholders in the setting of strategic

direction of relevant education and training;

(d)

liaise with educational institutions;

(e)

perform any other function as may be assigned to it

by the Minister.

The Council shall be governed by a Board Board.

composed of not less than eleven and not more than thirteen members

to be nominated by the Minister and appointed by the Prime Minister

for a period of three years and the members shall be eligible to be re-

appointed after their term of office expires.

(2) The Prime Minister, upon recommendation of the Minister,

shall appoint from among the members a Chairperson and a Deputy

(3) The members of the Board shall include the following

(a)

a representative appointed by the University of

(b)

a representative appointed by the Malta College for

Arts, Science and Technology;

(c)

a

representative

appointed

by

the

Jobsplus

Corporation;

(d)

a representative appointed by the Institute for

Tourism Studies;

(e)

a representative appointed by the Malta Chamber

of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry;

(f)

a representative appointed by the Malta Enterprise;

(g)

a representative of civil society;

(h)

a representative from amongst lifelong learning

(i)

the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for

(j)

a maximum of four persons who, in the opinion of

the Minister, possess leadership qualities, and have an

understanding of education and the labour market within the

context of an open, democratic, fair, prosperous and inclusive

(1)

The Council may invite ad hoc experts to sit on the

Council when discussing specific issues.

(2) These experts shall only attend upon request and shall not

be considered as members of the Council.

(1)

A member of the Council may at any time be

removed from office by the Prime Minister on the grounds of inability

to perform the functions of his office as required, either because of

mental or physical illness, or for any other reason due to which the

member would no longer be fit to occupy such office or due to bad

conduct.

(2) A member of the Board may resign from his office through

a letter addressed to the Prime Minister. If any member tenders his

resignation or is removed from his office by the Prime Minister or

should the office of any member of the Board become in any manner

vacant, the Prime Minister, upon recommendation of the Minister,

may appoint a qualified person to take up this post and any person

who is so appointed shall keep on occupying that post up to the

termination of the term of office of the person being so substituted

and such person shall be eligible to be reappointed.

(3) Any absence or vacancy among the members of the Board

or any participation in its meetings by any person who is not entitled

to such act, shall not invalidate the procedures of the Board, insofar as

there is a quorum of not less than one-half of the number of members

of the Board plus one.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Order and of any

regulations made under the Act, the Board shall generally regulate its

own procedures.

(5) The Minister may make regulations regarding the

procedures to be adopted by the Board in the course of its operations.

The Council shall have its own budget and shall regulate

its own procedure.

The Council shall, two months before the start of the

business year present the Minister with an annual work plan.

The Council shall compile and send to the Minister an

annual report not later than six weeks from the start of the business

year, on its activities during that year.

(1)

The Council shall meet at least once every two

months or as necessary.

(2) Meetings shall be convened by the Chairperson.

The Minister shall appoint a secretary to keep minutes and Secretary.

a record of the meetings.

B

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