Applications for Skolasajf 2023, were launched on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, during a press conference at the San Gwann Primary School.
The press conference was attended by the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Dr Clifton Grima, the FES CEO Mr Michael Bondin, and the St Clare College Principal Mr Jonathan Attard.
Minister Grima was greeted at the entrance to the school by a class of Year 1 students, who welcomed him and the guests with a sweet choral song and dance. While addressing the press conference, Minister Grima referred to the increasing popularity and necessity of the Skolasajf service, with over 12,000 applications registered in 2022. He defined Skolasajf as an opportunity for students to broaden their horizon in terms of non-formal educational activities, that introduce them to new skills and areas of knowledge. This is achieved also through the ongoing support of the partners who generously lend their services from one year to another.
The FES CEO Mr Michael Bondin spoke about the benefits derived from the service for students and parents, and about the work involved by the different FES departments to deliver this service to over 12,000 students. This figure reflects the realities and needs of the society which FES serves, while highlighting social challenges that children may be facing from a young age. Skolasajf provides a safe environment where students can socialise, even while their parents are at work.
The Principal of St Clare College, Mr Jonathan Attard, also built on this concept, addressing the need for a continuation of some sort of structure for the students. The friendliness and feeling of a community experienced throughout the scholastic year should not go on hiatus between July and October. Through Skolasajf, FES is providing a continuation that helps the children in their social and emotional development, among other competences.
Skolasajf 2023 will operate from 12th July to 11th August, and from 21st August to 7th September. Applications ae accepted online at https://services.fes.gov.mt/, as well as at the servizz.gov hubs, until 3rd May 2023. The full list of servizz.gov hubs can be found here.
The service is delivered from State primary schools and from 5 Resource Centres, around Malta and Gozo. The application form provides parents with the list of centres to choose from. All centres offer the core programme between 8:30am and 12:30pm. Selected centres also offer an extended service for working parents, between 7am and 8:30am, and between 12:30pm till 5:30pm.
For all this to happen, FES employs over 2000 employees with the roles of Centre Coordinators, Playworkers and Child Support Workers, Sports Playworkers, among others. People interested to apply for these roles are encouraged to check their eligibility and apply at https://recruitment.fes.gov.mt/.
The press conference was also the occasion to launch the Skolasajf 2023 logo, inspired by the winning design of Amy Aquilina Castagno, who attends the M’Scala St Joachim School and Klabb 3-16 Centre and won the Skolasajf Logo Competition. Prizes for this competition were kindly sponsored by Copyclub Live and Heritage Malta.
During the event, the FES CEO Michael Bondin also inaugurated the new FES website, with a short video to give a brief glimpse of what awaits visitors to the site https://fes.gov.mt/. The site has been given a new look, bearing corporate colours and with better accessibility to information and applications for services.
Two students from the San Gwann Primary School, Mattea Mintoff and Liam Galea, skillfully compered the event.
The Skolasajf 2023 ‘Peace by Piece’ Programme
This year’s theme for Skolasajf is Peace by Piece, referring to the concept that everyone’s small actions of kindness and consideration, form a collective to promote peace amongst us. These themes will be explored via weekly subthemes through non-formal activities addressed to different age groups. The activities will vary to include discussion on the topic (we encourage children to find their voice, from a young age and engage in critical thinking), arts and crafts, science experiments, educational games, story-telling, music/song/dance and more. The programme is complemented with outings, and with the participation of over 50 partners, hailing from the public and private sector, including NGOs.
More information about Skolasajf 2023 can be accessed at https://fes.gov.mt/skolasajf/, where one can find the Terms and Conditions, and a series of FAQs.
