Scoops - A Co-Operative Experience

Students attend school for various reasons. School provides students with education necessary for adult life. School prepares students for their social life, personal life and career.

Through Scoops, students can go through a co-operative experience in their school. This is possible because students group themselves and start an activity with the aid of teachers and parents. This helps them to understand the philosophy and the practical challenge of co-operatives. Students should find this activity beneficial - apart from enjoyable - because when they leave school they will find it easier to collaborate and cooperate with other workers.

Through practical experience Scoops helps students understand and practice the co-operative values and skills of democracy, co-operation, participation and solidarity. All these are important assets for a rewarding adult life and a satisfying career.

Aims

	To promote awareness about cooperatives and the local cooperatives movement.
	To impart business skills.
	To enhance personal and social skills.

Through such a project, students benefit in the cognitive, effective and the psychomotor domains of learning because they will increase their knowledge, develop their attitudes and enhance their skills. These aims are compatible and satisfy the needs of the National Curriculum. This obliges the education system to prepare students for their future careers by helping students to develop:

Knowledge

	about the meaning and value of work.
	about the duties and the rights of the Maltese worker.
	about safety regulations.
	on the global economy and its effect on the local economy.
	on social and political history concerning the Maltese worker.
	about workers unions and movements.
	on the Maltese Co-operative Movement.
	on social benefits of different categories of employees (full-time/ part-time/ unemployed)
	about the taxation system.
	about the range of job vacancies available and their requirements.
	about finding a vacancy.
	on subsidies and financial schemes.
	on work ethics.

Skills

	Working in groups and self control in critical times.
	Planning and organisation.
	Developing one's own potential.
	Discussing issues and negotiating deadlocks.
	Time management.
	Project management.
	Evaluation of one's activities.
	Presenting of Projects or Business Plans.
	Finding solutions to problems encountered during work.
	Concentration.
	Detecting dangers and concern for safety at work.
	Interpreting regulations, instructions, orders and directives.
	Choice of one's career.
	Handling an interview.
	Writing of a curriculum vitae and presenting one's portfolio.
	Financial Management of one's earnings.
	Keeping up to date with one's field of work.
	Preparation for temporary unemployment.
	Awareness and experience of information technology.
	Enhance literacy skills

Attitudes

	Appreciate that business requires long term planning.
	Appreciate that motivation in education is important for one's future career.
	Generate respect for all trades and professions.
	Appreciate the need of workers to join groups.
	Appreciate the importance of accountability and initiative.
	Appreciate life long education.

How is a Scoop formed ?

Scoops and real co-operatives are formed in almost in the same way. The Scoops Project Implementers from Outlook Coop help students form and run a Scoop in their school. The basic requirement for a new Scoop is to group at least five members aged 13 - 15. For further information please contact the Project Implementers, Outlook Coop, on 21 441604, email: scoops@outlook.coop and visit the Scoops website www.scoops.org.mt

Scoops official Website