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Award Ceremony for Primary & Secondary Schools
Monday, December 5, 2005

The latest initiative by sedqa in supporting the prevention programmes is the publication of a set of informative leaflets, which are aimed mainly for students, including information about alcohol and health, alcohol and pregnancy, gambling, and general information about alcohol and other drugs. The new publications also promote the Agency’s main points of reference for both information and services. An interactive CD-ROM for Primary Schools and a DVD for Secondary School senior students have also been produced.

This new preventive material was launched today during an Award Ceremony held at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, dedicated to celebrate all schools that participated in the prevention programmes in 2004. During this ceremony, Heads of Primary and Secondary schools received a certificate of participation for their contribution to prevention activities. This ceremony was in collaboration with the Division of Education.

Award Ceremony for Primary & Secondary Schools

Mr. Frans Borg, Permanent Secretary Designate within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment, in his opening address emphasized the importance of applying a holistic approach to the child’s education and the importance of collaboration between entities in delivering the messages and information about substance abuse. Mr. Borg added that it is of utmost importance that children are prepared and given the proper life skills, referring to the National Minimum Curriculum and the adaptation of drug and alcohol prevention programmes in schools. Mr. Borg also appealed to adults to listen to children, while emphasizing on helping them evolve their creativity and letting them experience childhood and adolescence. He followed this appeal by another directed towards schools to put the children and their well-being first, as it is the educators’ role to make a difference for the best in the child’s life.

Reaching education institutions with informative material and through the building of lifeskills are fundamental in the universal prevention process. Several initiatives are coordinated each year by sedqa’s Primary Prevention Team in schools and this clearly demonstrates the prioritization that sedqa gives to educating and putting the responsibility of one’s behaviour on the individual. This was emphasised by Mr. Jean Claude Cardona, sedqa’s Operations Director, who also stated that it is the collaboration between the Agency, educators and parents in creating a working relationship what fosters children’s learning and healthy life choices.

Award Ceremony for Primary & Secondary Schools

Mr. Cardona referred to the results of the ESPAD, which show that alcohol is the substance most widely used by 15-16 year olds in Malta, followed by tobacco. In fact, in all three surveys - 1995, 1999 and 2003 – the incidence of alcohol occurrence over drug intake by Maltese 16 year olds, emerges repeatedly. 11% of the 3,500 students participating in the 2003 survey admitted having made use of any illicit drug during their lifetime, compared to the 38% who admitted having been drunk in the twelve months prior to the survey.

Mr. Cardona added that all work and interventions aimed at preventing substance abuse by these young people would only render the expected effect if implemented and managed dynamically. This could be achieved by promoting the necessary change in attitude towards life. Thus, Policy makers in the area of youth policy, family policy, youth workers and community leaders need to form one common front to address collectively the impact being caused by licit and illicit substance abuse. This is why educating our kids about substance abuse is so important and why it is taken so seriously by those involved in educating our children.

In his address about the update of the strategy adopted by sedqa through its Primary Prevention Team, Mr. Paul Pace, Manager of the Team explained why the Agency’s prevention strategy has shifted to prioritize interventions with students considered to be at a higher risk of using drugs and alcohol. This is especially valid when targeting students in secondary schools. Mr. Pace also mentioned the validity of the use of electronic means when providing material for schools. Mr. Pace added that all preventive measures adopted would be more effective when these are combined with participation by the parents through parental skills programmes.

Award Ceremony for Primary & Secondary Schools

In this light, staff from the Primary Prevention Team working with schools produced a DVD entitled Esperjenzi aimed for students in secondary schools, and a new CD-ROM aimed at Year 1 students and teachers. This material was launched during the Awards Ceremony.

Further topics tackled during the Awards Ceremony included a brief about the criteria used by the Primary Prevention Team when evaluating each school’s collaboration with sedqa’s programmes. Ms. Lara Agius, Primary Prevention Officer, also emphasized sedqa’s expectations from the education system to make each prevention programme more effective and the resources provided more utilized.

Those interested in getting a copy of the new leaflets launched are encouraged to contact the Primary Prevention Team on 2124 4226 or send an email requesting the material by clicking here.

To access the presentations used during this activity, please click here.

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