B. Outcome of Phase 1 of National Consultation Process (May-June '01)

In May 2001, the Ministry of Education set up a Working Committee for Facilitating Consultations on Lifelong Learning. The main tasks of this Committee were to disseminate the Memorandum on Lifelong Learning disseminated by the EU Commission, to facilitate discussions and obtain feedback about the six key messages contained in this memorandum and other related issues, to record and analyse stakeholder opinions and recommendations, to prepare a report for the EU Commission that would include a number of recommendations, and to make recommendations on the nature and scope of a mechanism that would continue stakeholder consultations in order to develop, by June 2002, a National Strategic Plan on Lifelong Learning.

The outcomes of this Working Committee since May 2001 include the following:

1. Regular group planning and review meetings;
2. The appointment of a National Co-ordinator on Lifelong Learning;
3. The holding of a Press Conference chaired by the Minister of Education to inform the public about the planned consultations on lifelong learning;
4. The submission of a grant proposal to the EU Commission to cover part of the cost of the first phase of the national consultation process;
5. The development and dissemination of a consultative questionnaire that focuses on the 6 key messages. Both the EU Memorandum on Lifelong Learning as well as the questionnaire were made available through the web site of the Department for Further Studies and Adult Education;
6. The organisation of two National Consultation Conferences where representatives of a wide range of stakeholder categories could participate (May 26 and June 16). In both Conferences, the Minister of Education reiterated the Ministry's commitment to undertake a wide consultation leading to the preparation of a national plan. Press releases were issued by the Ministry of Education on both occasions;
7. The analysis, by six experts, of questionnaire responses and the preparation of six papers for the second National Consultation Conference held on June 16 that summarise questionnaire responses regarding each of the six key messages;
8. The participation of Mr Gerard Mayen, Desk Officer for Malta and Latvia at the European Training Foundation in the second conference held on the 16th June;
9. The initiation of a national data-base of resource persons with expertise, experience and qualifications in the area of lifelong learning;
10. The establishment of (a) a specific e-mail address to establish networking with interested persons and bodies (lifelong.learning@gov.mt) and of (b) a webpage on lifelong learning within the website of the Department for Further Studies & Adult Education (http://ww.education.gov.mt/lifelonglearning/);
11. Recommendations made to the Minister of Education by the Working Committee regarding the setting up of a National Commission on Lifelong Learning that would complete the national consultation process by June 2002 and to formulate a national strategic plan on lifelong learning.
12. The development of a national data-base of providers of non-formal training opportunities.