Following the recently implemented Learning Outcomes in the Education Department, the PSCD teachers Charmaine Cassar and Leonora Azzopardi at Zabbar Primary B organised week-long career educational talks and activities at the school for the Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 pupils which sessions complement the PSCD lessons at school. These talks focused on topics such as Occupations in the Community, Gender Equality, Future Jobs and Health and Safety at the Workplace.

Mr Matthew Agius from Id-Dlam għad-Dawl, the foundation which helps prison inmates and their family, discussed the importance of discipline as a basis to all jobs. A prison inmate who is currently serving some of the term at the Caritas’ Prison Inmates Programme and who was accompanied by a Caritas staff member, shared his life experience with the students. He emphasised on how important the school life is to build one’s discipline and choose one’s good friends.

The Year 5 pupils attended a talk by Zabbar Local Council Mayor, Mr Jorge Grech who discussed different careers in various sectors and the importance of every job. Through his role as a Mayor, he could address the principles of responsibility, helping each other, listening to others’ needs and voluntary work.

Ms Elizabeth Saliba, Officer at the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, spoke to the Year 4 pupils about the health and safety issues at the workplace with all occupations. The children could assess the risks found in a specific job site through an interactive, audiovisual presentation.

Mr Andre Callus, Executive at the National Commission for Gender Equality, addressed the gender social expectations with the Year 3 pupils and helped them understand that they can achieve whatever they wish as long as they work for it, no matter if they are boys or girls.  They discussed stereotypes and challenged what girls and boys are expected to do.

These talks were prepared as part of the Career Exploration and Planning in the PSCD syllabus, which syllabus introduced Careers as an integral part of the subject, specifically adding the term “Career” in the subject name. The lessons on career at all school levels enable students to reflect on one’s future career goals, to develop a career plan, to understand the advantages and disadvantages of various work alternatives, to understand the importance of employability skills and to understand the rights, duties and responsibilities of employers and employees.