This project had two objectives aiming to: a) Strengthen the emotional and professional capacity building of the psychosocial team, school leaders and teachers, and b) Fostering 21st century skills through STEM education. The success criteria for the first objective were a) Participants will have a calmer approach to the work demands resulting in: b) a positive attitude towards learning amongst students and their parents c) greater parent/school co-operation and understanding d) improved teamwork between the College Psychosocial Staff and the educators e) a reduced challenging behaviour in schools f) a positive and welcoming environment in schools g) the setting up the College Wellbeing and Care Committee. The success criteria for the second objective were: a) Discuss STEM concepts, methodologies, tool and applications. b) Develop STEM activities on a regular basis as part of the learners' curricular experience. c) Train others on the implementation of STEM within the curriculum. d) Participate actively in national STEM related activities. e) Criticize in a constructive way the work of peers to improve the practices and learning experience. f) Evaluate partnership opportunities with NGOs and companies supporting STEM.
Our project aimed to enhance the human capital of the educators within St Ignatius College so they attend to the diverse profiles of our learners amongst whom 8% are of non-Maltese nationality. St. Ignatius College is a network of five primary schools for students aged 5 to 10 years, a learning centre for primary students with challenging behavior, a middle school for students aged 11 and 12 years old, and a secondary school for students aged 13 to 16 years. The college is one of ten state Maltese Colleges offering quality compulsory education for Maltese and non-Maltese students residing in Malta. The programmes on offer are guided by the National Curriculum Framework For All (NCF, 2012) and cater for MQF Level 1 in the primary cycle and MQF Levels 2 and/or 3 by the end of compulsory education. Nonetheless, the College in its diverse profile of students offers subjects at the vocational and applied levels thus providing alternative routes at the same MQF Levels leading to a University of Malta certification with which they can proceed to selected post-secondary institutions thus minimizing the early leavers. Agribusiness and Oil Water Guilding are two such examples.