Pupils and students - enrolments (educ_uoe_enr)

National Reference Metadata in ESS Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS)

Compiling agency: National Statistics Office (NSO)


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Statistical presentation
3. Statistical processing
4. Quality management
5. Relevance
6. Accuracy and reliability
7. Timeliness and punctuality
8. Coherence and comparability
9. Accessibility and clarity
10. Cost and Burden
11. Confidentiality
12. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

National Statistics Office (NSO)
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Education and Culture Statistics Unit
1.5. Contact mail address

National Statistics Office, Lascaris, Valletta, VLT 2000, Malta


2. Statistical presentation Top
2.1. Data description

A general description of the statistical process and its outputs, and their evolution over time.

 

NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM
The following documents provide general information on the educational system; please add the relevant links for your country.

General link to Eurydice:
https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/home_en
National system broad overview:
https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/malta/overview
National Education System Description:
https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/malta/overview
National Education System - Provisions regarding language learning:
https://curriculum.gov.mt/en/Resources/The-NCF/Documents/NCF.pdf

https://curriculum.gov.mt/en/new_syllabi/Documents/Other/Foreign_Languages_MQF_Level_3.pdf

https://rm.coe.int/language-education-policy-profile-malta/16807b3c39
Structure of Education and Training Systems:
https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/malta/malta

 

Please, use the box below if you wish to complement or amend the information provided by Eurydice:
 

 

Link to the ISCMAP programme and qualification:
Concept's annexes
National link to programmes and qualifications:
https://mfhea.mt/list-of-licensed-providers-and-accredited-programmes/
Further information on data flagged ‘d’ in the database is available to download from the Annex of the Metadata page for Education administrative data from 2013 onwards (ISCED 2011):
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/educ_uoe_enr_esms.htm


Annexes:
Annex 2 - ISCED Mapping for schoolyear 2020/2021 (UOE2022) – Malta
2.2. Classification system

 ISCED CLASSIFICATION

http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/international-standard-classification-of-education-isced-2011-en.pdf

 

 ISCED Fields of Education and Training

http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/international-standard-classification-of-education-fields-of-education-and-training-2013-detailed-field-descriptions-2015-en.pdf
2.3. Coverage - sector

All institutions offering formal education in the public, government dependent and independent sectors.
2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

https://metadata.nso.gov.mt/concepts.aspx

https://metadata.nso.gov.mt/reports.aspx?id=41

 
2.5. Statistical unit

Institutions providing formal education.
2.6. Statistical population

All students, graduates and personnel in formal education from public, government dependent and independent sectors.
2.7. Reference area

National.
2.8. Coverage - Time

Detailed information on Education Statistics is available as from 2013.
2.9. Base period

Not applicable.


3. Statistical processing Top
3.1. Source data

For each UOE table, please list the source(s) used to compile information: UOE table, name, type, date of availability and responsibility.

 

Sources used for data on enrolments
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 0 - 3 School Information System (SIS) for students in state schools Register The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation
ISCED 0 - 3 NSO census among State-dependent and Independent schools Survey Heads of schools
ISCED 3-7 General and Vocational post secondary institutions Survey Heads of institutions 
ISCED 5-8 Tertiary education institutions  Survey Heads of institutions

 

Sources used for data on entrants
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 0 - 3 School Information System (SIS) for students in state schools Register The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation
ISCED 0 - 3 NSO census among State-dependent and Independent schools Survey Heads of schools
ISCED 3-7 General and Vocational post secondary schools Survey Heads of institutions
ISCED 5-8 Tertiary education institutions  Survey Heads of institutions

 

Sources used for data on personnel
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 0 - 3 State teaching and non teaching data, independent teaching data, state-dependent teaching and non teaching staff data Register The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation
ISCED 0 - 3 NSO census among Independent schools for non teaching staff data Survey Heads of schools
ISCED 3-7 General and Vocational post secondary schools Survey Heads of institutions
ISCED 5-8 Tertiary education institutions  Survey Heads of institutions

 

Sources used for data on enrolments at regional level
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
Not Applicable      

  

Sources used for data on foreign languages learning
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 1 - 3 School Information System (SIS) for students in state schools Register The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation
ISCED 1 - 3 NSO census among State-dependent and Independent schools Survey Heads of schools

 

 

Sources used for data on graduates
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 3 Exams database Register The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation, MATSEC Support Unit, ECDL Malta, Heads of private schools
ISCED 3 NSO census of State-dependent and Independent schools Survey Heads of schools
ISCED 3-7 General and Vocational post secondary schools Survey Heads of institutions
ISCED 5-8 Tertiary education institutions  Survey Heads of institutions

 

Sources used for data on education expenditure
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 0 - 3 NSO census of Independent schools Survey Heads of schools
All ISCED levels  Public Finance Unit (NSO) Register NSO
ISCED 0 - 3 Secretariat for Catholic Schools Survey Archbishop's Curia Malta
ISCED 4-8 Post-secondary and Tertiary education institutions (private institutions) Survey Heads of institutions

 

Sources used for data on credit mobility
Detailed variables concerned Name of the source Type (Survey / Register / Estimation / Other) Responsible of the source (UOE data provider / Other: which-one?)
ISCED 5-8 Tertiary education institutions  Survey Heads of institutions
3.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual.
3.3. Data collection

Students: Data collection is carried out during April of each year. The reference period for the information provided is the end of March of the reference academic year. For pre-primary to secondary state schools information is obtained from register data provided directly from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation. Questionnaires to pre-primary, primary and secondary non-state educational institutions are sent via email and processed through a custom-made computer software. Questionnaires to post secondary and tertiary state, church and private are sent via email. Entrants, languages and classes are derived from the students questionnaires.

Graduates: Data collection is carried out during December of each year. Students who qualified for a certification during the reference academic year are requested in the data collection. Secondary and post secondary state, church and private data are derived from the collected enrolments questionnaires. Exams data is also collected from the following data providers: Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation, MATSEC and ECDL Malta, and a register is compiled. Questionnaires to tertiary state and private institutions are sent via email. 

Personnel: Data collection is carried out during April of each year. The reference period for the information provided is the end of March of the reference academic year. For the pre-primary to post-secondary levels of education, personnel in state schools and church schools and teachers in private schools are obtained from register data provided directly from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation. For the pre-primary to secondary levels of education, a questionnaire is sent via email to independent schools requesting data on non-teaching staff. A personnel questionnaire requesting data on teaching and non-teaching staff is sent via email to the remaining post-secondary to tertiary state and private institutions.

Finance: Data collection is carried out during April of each year. State data is provided by the Public Finance Unit within NSO. A financial questionnaire is sent via email to the Secreteriat for Catholic Education, who assists NSO in the collection of church data for the pre-primary till the post-secondary levels of education. A financial questionnaire is sent via email to private institutions for the pre-primary till the tertiary levels of education. 

Credit Mobility: Data collection is carried out in April of each year. Information is provided as at the reference academic year. Questionnaires to tertiary state and private institutions are sent via email. 

Prior to data analysis, data from different sources are checked for completeness and consistency, queried where necessary and merged into a single data file.
3.4. Data validation

Data checking and validation takes place at different stages of production. In the first instance, the data is checked for completeness and consisentency, and a broad comparison with data from the previous academic years is carried out. Subsequently, data is appropriately cleaned and coded.
3.5. Data compilation

Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

Weighting methods
Weighted figures for differing reference periods Weighted figures for differing theoretical ages Conversion factors from part-time to full-time equivalent (FTE) data
For UOE FIN: 2/3 of academic year 2019/2020 and 1/3 of academic year 2020/2021  Not applicable

2 part-timers are equivalent to 1 full timer in the case of Enrolments, Graduates and Personnel.

When academic personnel works both on a full-time and part-time basis; the FT weight is 0.67 and the PT weight is 0.33, such that a personnel is counted only once in the data collection. 

Students and graduates are counted only once in the data collection. 

If a student/graduate/teacher/academic staff is enrolled/working both on full-time and part-time basis; the FTE weight is 1.5. 

 

Estimations methods used in the UOE questionnaires
Type of data Detailed variables concerned ISCED level Reference year(s) Data source (internal to UOE or not) Data type (sample-based or not) Data source name in English Reason Description of the estimation method
Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
3.6. Adjustment

Finance: Students are adjusted for the financial year by taking two thirds of academic year t+3 and one third of year t+2.


4. Quality management Top
4.1. Quality assurance

Significant investment has been made in order to improve the quality of education statistics and the efficiency with which these are produced. All variables are realistically achieved.
4.2. Quality management - assessment

Education datasets are considered very exhaustive. For this reason a lot of time and effort goes into cleaning, analysing and coding the data received.

Auxiliary sources and past data are used to check coherence and quality of data, as well as in the case of missing data.

The NSO also works to establish better relationships with its administrative data providers; with the knowledge that if these understand better what data is sought, the data quality will also improve. NSO also proposed and succeeded in convincing administrative data providers to modify the content of their databases to better cater for its statistical requirements. To this end, education statistics can be considered to be of good quality in view of more accurate data being collected.


5. Relevance Top
5.1. Relevance - User Needs

The main users of Education Statistics data are:

  • Central government - Particularly the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths and Research and Innovation
  • Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA)
  • The Central Bank of Malta (CBM)
  • Other units within NSO
  • Other institutions falling under the education domain
  • Independent educational institutions
  • Researchers and students
  • General public
5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

A user satisfaction survey was carried out by the NSO to measure the degree with which it meets its obligations towards its users.  The survey was held in 2022, and a dedicated publication outlines main results from this survey, which can be accessed through: 

https://nso.gov.mt/user-satisfaction-survey/
5.3. Completeness

The extent to which all statistics that are needed are available.

ISCED levels not covered
  Enrolments Entrants Personnel Foreign languages learning Regional enrolments Graduates Credit Mobility Education expenditure
Data not covered (1) Students in adult education are only included in total ENROLMENTS. (2) ISCED01 is missing.    ISCED01 is missing.   Not Applicable      (1)ISCED01 is missing. (2) ISCED6 and ISCED 7 orientation of course. 
Reasons for unavailable data and, planned actions to improve coverage (1) Data on adult education programmes are not collected separately. The AES can provide some information on adult formal education, but this survey is not conducted on an annual basis. 

(2) ISCED 0 data is representative without ISCED 01 enrolments and data is coded as missing due to partial coverage. The NSO is looking into the possibility to capture the paid childcare element for full coverage of ISCED 01.

   (1) ISCED 0 data is representative without ISCED 01 personnel and data is coded as missing due to partial coverage. The NSO is looking into the possibility to capture the paid childcare element for full coverage of ISCED 01.   Not Applicable     (1) ISCED 0 data is representative without ISCED 01 enrolments and data is coded as missing due to partial coverage. The NSO is looking into the possibility to capture the paid childcare element for full coverage of ISCED 01.

(2) ISCED 6 and ISCED 7 orientation ('Academic' and 'Professional') will be implemented as from financial year 2021 since the orientation for these levels is being reported from academic years 2020-2021.
5.3.1. Data completeness - rate

n/a


6. Accuracy and reliability Top
6.1. Accuracy - overall

The NSO has full coverage of all education institutions in the target population. Consistency checks are carried out with data provided from previous academic years and coherence tests are made with other auxiliary sources.
6.2. Sampling error

Not Applicable, a census of institutions is undertaken.
6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

Not Applicable, a census of institutions is undertaken.
6.3. Non-sampling error

Every effort is made to minimise the incidence of non-sampling error such as unit non-response and item non-response, in which case imputations are performed. Nevertheless, since the questionnaire is filled in by the respondents independently, this may cause non-sampling error which can be reduced by adequate validations.

 
6.3.1. Coverage error

Divergence between the frame population and the target population.

 

Vocational training Programmes shorter than one semester
(or Implementation of the semester rule)
Are vocational and technical training programmes in enterprises included in the UOE data collection (YES/NO)? If Yes, how is the 10% school based component over the whole length of the programme assessed? Do (formal) programmes of shorter duration than one semester, full time equivalent duration as defined nationally, exist (YES/NO)? If Yes, how their duration (shorter than one semester) is assessed? Are all programmes of shorter duration than one semester, full time equivalent duration as defined nationally excluded from the UOE data collection (YES/NO)? If NO, how does the coverage deviate from the UOE Manual recommendation?
Yes Based on information provided by the school

Yes

 By number of ECTS OR the figure for course duration given as a number of months  Yes  

 

Early childhood education programmes
ISCED 01 programmes Reporting of Age in ISCED 0 Personnel in ISCED 0 What is the starting age of compulsory Primary education (ISCED 1)? This is needed for the calculation of ECE indicators such as 'Pupils aged between 4 years old and the starting age of compulsory education, by sex - as % of the population of the corresponding age group'
Do Early Childhood Educational Development programmes (ISCED 01) exist in the country
(YES/NO)?		 If Yes, are these programmes included in the UOE data collection
(YES/NO)?		 Are children under the age of 3 reported as participating in ISCED 02 Pre-primary education programmes? (YES/NO) If YES, please explain why. Are Classroom Teachers and Teacher Aides reported separately in the UOE data collection? (YES/NO) If NO, why? How are they reported? What is the minimum level of qualification required to become a Classroom Teacher at ISCED 01 and 02? Please give ISCED level. What is the minimum level of qualification required to become a Teachers’ Aide at ISCED 01 and 02? Please give ISCED level.
 Yes  No  Yes State schools have two intakes for the first year in ISCED02. The first intake includes younger students who would need to repeat the first year in ISCED02. Younger students (those aged 2 year olds from the 2nd intake) are engaged in the same setting as all other children (those aged 3 year olds from the 1st intake) at the ISCED 02 level in terms of class level and educational content of that academic year.  Yes   Minimum requirement for ISCED01 is ISCED4. Minimum requirement for ISCED02 is ISCED6. Minimum requirement for ISCED01 is ISCED3. Minimum requirement for ISCED02 is ISCED5.  5 Years old

 

Special education needs (SNE) programmes
Are students in special education included in the data provided on enrolments, entrants, graduates and regional data
(YES/NO)?		 If NO, could you please specify for which questionnaires and explain why?
 

Enrolments - Yes; Entrants-Yes , Graduates - No, Regional- Not applicable

 Not included in the graduates questionnaire as the level attained by these students is insufficient for level completion. 

 

Adult education programmes and "continuing education"
Are adult education programmes included in the data? (YES/NO)  If NO, why?  If YES, does the national definition of “adult” or “continuing” education fully comply with the category as defined by the UOE manual? If the national definition of “adult” or “continuing” education programmes does not fully comply with the category as defined by the UOE manual, how it is assessed that the national “adult” or “continuing” programmes are similar or equivalent to corresponding initial education? 
Yes, but not in ENRL9. As at present, data on adult education programmes are not collected separately. The AES can provide some information on adult formal education, but this survey is not conducted on an annual basis. ENRL9 = missing.     

 

Students enrolled in educational institutions organised by ministries other than ministry of education
Do educational programmes organised by Ministries other than Ministry of education exist in the country (YES/NO)?  If Yes, what is the coverage of these programmes in the UOE data collection?  If Yes, and if relevant,which of those programmes are excluded from the UOE data collection?
 Yes  Depends on the duration/ ECTS. Exclusion of programmes which do not satisfy duration and courses not delivered in Malta, as specified in Manual. 

 

Domestic educational activities Distance learning / e-learning programmes
Are all country’s domestic educational activities reported in the UOE data collection (YES/NO)? If NO, which domestic educational activity (e.g. for example Distance learning/e-learning involving two countries, commuting students, foreign campus, European administration schools, etc.) are not reported and why? Are distance learning programmes data reported in the UOE questionnaires? (YES / NO / Partially / Not relevant) If NO, please explain why. If Partially, which ones are excluded and for what reasons? If distance students are included in the data, are national distance learners in programmes organised by institutions outside your country excluded?
No  Only formal education and courses delivered in Malta are reported in UOE.  Yes      Yes

 

Students participating in exchange programmes (credit mobile students) Foreign languages learning
Are students in short term postings (i.e. exchange programmes (credit mobility)) excluded from the population of students in the data collection (YES/NO)? If Yes, how the length of their stay abroad is assessed? If NO, why they are not excluded? Are students with SNE (Special Needs Education) enrolled in special schools excluded from the data on foreign languages? (YES/NO) Apart from SNE pupils, is the scope of the population the same as the total of students enrolled? (YES/NO) If NO, which pupils are not included?
 No   They are included in the national enrolments for academic year.

Students remain enrolled with the local institution.

  Yes  Yes  

 

National programmes not covered by the UOE data collection, by ISCED level - Reasons why they are not covered
Programmes not covered at ISCED 0-Early childhood education Programmes not covered at ISCED 1-primary level of education Programmes not covered at ISCED 2-lower secondary level of education Programmes not covered at ISCED 3-upper secondary level of education Programmes not covered at ISCED 4-post-secondary non-tertiary education Programmes not covered at ISCED 5-short-cycle tertiary education Programmes not covered at ISCED 6– Bachelor's or equivalent level Programmes not covered at at ISCED 7 – Master's or equivalent level Programmes not covered at ISCED 8 – Doctoral or equivalent level  
ISCED 0 data is representative without ISCED 01 enrolments and data is coded as missing due to partial coverage. The NSO is defining ways to capture the paid childcare element for full coverage of ISCED 01.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded.  Programmes of less than one semester FT study (or the equivalent in PT) and courses not delivered in Malta are excluded. Self-paced programmes are excluded.  Self-paced programmes are excluded.  

 

Graduates: unduplicated count
Is the method of unduplicated count used for calculation of Graduates in the UOE data collection
(YES/NO)?		 If YES, please explain the method.
Yes If a student attains more than one qualification in the same ISCED level in a given academic year, s/he is only counted as one graduate. Headcount is always 1, as graduates (and students) are given a weight according to the intensity of studies and level.

 

Tertiary education programmes (ISCED Levels (5-8)
Orientation of programme in tertiary education Personnel in tertiary education, Academic staff
Does the orientation (general/academic, vocational/professional) in tertiary education (ISCED levels 5 to 7) exist in the country
(YES/NO)?		 If YES, what is the national definition of the programme orientation? Are PhD candidates who are employed and hold titles such as teaching assistant, teaching associate, teaching fellow, research assistant reported as academic staff in the UOE data collection (YES/NO)?
No, as from academic year 2020-2021, institutions started reporting general/academic, vocational/ professional courses based on the definition from the UOE manual.   Currently we do not have a database for personnel by qualification. 

People engaged to work on research in Maltese tertiary institutions are not involved in instruction. Since their main assignment is research, MT does not include such personnel in UOE PERS-2 and PERS-3.
6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

Not applicable.

 
6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

Not applicable.
6.3.2. Measurement error

Not applicable.
6.3.3. Non response error

In circumstances where variables are missing, these are imputed using auxiliary administrative registers or past data.
6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

Not applicable.
6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

Minimal.
6.3.4. Processing error

Not applicable.
6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate

Not Applicable.
6.3.5. Model assumption error

Not applicable.
6.4. Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable.
6.5. Data revision - policy

Education statistics are not normally subject to revision. However, whenever revisions are carried out, these are always adequately documented both in the quality report that is annually sent to Eurostat and in the methodological sheet accompanying NSO news releases.
6.6. Data revision - practice

Any change in a value of a statistic released to the public.

 

Type of data reviewed Detailed variables concerned Reference time period Year when the revision was made Reason having led to the revision Consequences on accuracy
Foreign languages learning Total Pupils 2020 2022  Figures were revised to exclude students with special education needs from the "Total Pupils" in LANG2. Consistency of figures across LANG tables.
Foreign languages learning Total Pupils 2019 2022   Figures were revised to exclude students with special education needs from the "Total Pupils" in LANG2. Consistency of figures across LANG tables.
Foreign languages learning Total Pupils 2018 2022  Figures were revised to exclude students with special education needs from the "Total Pupils" in LANG2. Consistency of figures across LANG tables.
Graduates ISCED 2, ISCED 3

ISCED 4,5,6,7 

 2019 2021 Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes. Included students who were excluded from GRADS in previous versions. 

Reclassification of Post-secondary non-tertiary and Tertiary due to misclassification.

 Improvement in accuracy.
Graduates ISCED 2, ISCED 3

ISCED 4,5,6,7

 2018 2021 Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes. Included students that were excluded from GRADS in previous versions.

Reclassification of Post-secondary non-tertiary and Tertiary due to misclassification.

 Improvement in accuracy.
Graduates  ISCED 2 to ISCED 3  2017  2021 Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes and included students that were excluded from GRADS in the previous versions.  Improvement in accuracy.
Graduates  ISCED 2 to ISCED 3   2016  2021  Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes. Improvement in accuracy.
Graduates ISCED 2 to ISCED 3  2015 2021  Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes. Improvement in accuracy.
6.6.1. Data revision - average size

Not available.


7. Timeliness and punctuality Top
7.1. Timeliness

Length of time between data availability and the event or phenomenon they describe. Typically includes:

 

Information related to the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)
Data collection Post-collection phase Dissemination/publication in your country Additional comments on deadlines and timeliness
Type of data Start date End date Start date End date Start date End date
Students / Personnel April year t+1 June of year t+1 for all education levels This process commences as soon as all the data is received. September year t + 2 October t+2 November t+2 Deadlines are consistently met.
Graduates December year t+1 March of year t+2 for Post-secondary and tertiary institutions This process commences as soon as all the data is received. November year t +2

December t+2

 December t+2 Deadlines are consistently met.
Finance April t+1 September t+1 This process commences as soon as all the data is received. November year t+2

N/A

 N/A Deadlines are consistently met.
7.1.1. Time lag - first result

September year t+2 for student UOE Enrolments, Entrants, Class, Languages and Personnel. November year t+2 for UOE Graduates, Credit Mobility and Finance.
7.1.2. Time lag - final result

Not applicable.
7.2. Punctuality

All information was submitted to Eurostat on time.

Timeliness of releases was improved as they are published following Eurostat submission of data (t+2 instead of t+3). Releases were delivered on the specified dates in the news releases calendar. 
7.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

The number of days between the delivery/release date of data and the target date on which they were scheduled for delivery/ release.

 

Submission dates for the latest reference year (academic year t-t+1, or financial year t)
Deadline for transmission of data: 30 September t+2 Deadline for transmission of data: 30 November of t+2
Enrolments Entrants Personnel Foreign languages learning Regional data Graduates Education expenditure Credit mobility
September year t+2 September year t+2 September year t+2 September year t+2 N/A November year t +2 November year t+2 November year t+2

 

If relevant, reasons for late delivery and action taken or planned for improving punctuality
Enrolments Entrants Personnel Foreign languages learning Regional data Graduates Education expenditure Credit Mobility
 N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A


8. Coherence and comparability Top

The UOE manual is adhered to for the whole procedure, thus enabling geographical comparability across EU Member states, OECD members and the EFTA countries.
8.1. Comparability - geographical

The extent to which statistics are comparable between countries.

A. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: non financial data

Reference period Data collection period Reference date for student and personnel ages
 2021 (academic year 2020/2021) April-July 2021  01 January 2021

 

Enrolment: data collection period Enrolment in multiple fields of education Count of students: if relevant, detailed list of variables for which double counting are significant and why. Regional enrolment Foreign languages learning
 April-July 2021 Students are sometimes enrolled in multiple courses of different levels, fields and durations, in this case they are weighted accordingly.  No double counting as headcount is always 1.  Not applicable  No deviation.

 

Entrants New entrants by field of education Graduates from specific programmes Graduates by field of education
If the same ISCED digit-level is used, data can be comparable between countries.   No deviation. There may be graduates in specific programmes who were not enrolled in this particular programme but in one at a higher level. This occurs when a student does not finish the whole course, or attains an intermediate qualification; in such a case they are awarded a qualification of a lower level. There are also instances of students enrolled in a Masters programme, but graduate at different times: when they receive a certificate, diploma, degree, then the actual Masters. Graduates can sometimes be in multiple courses of different levels, fields and durations, in this case they are weighted accordingly.

 

Educational personnel in work- and school-based combined programmes Educational personnel taxonomy: classroom teachers (ISCED 0-4) and academic staff (ISCED 5-8) Educational staff at ISCED level 0 Educational personnel at ISCED levels 5-8 Educational personnel and temporary replacements
No deviation.  No deviation. No data on personnel in ISCED 01.  No deviation. In Malta, grades such as Supply Teachers and Supply Learning Support Educators exist; these replace teachers and Learning Supply Educators on long-leave. These temporary replacements are included in the UOE data.

 

B. Deviations between the national methodology and the UOE Manual: financial data

Expenditure at the pre-primary level - the childcare component
Reference period Expenditure at the pre-primary level: is the childcare component excluded (yes/no/partially)? If yes, which is exactly the share of "day care component" to be excluded from the data on the pre-primary level? If no, which estimation method is used to determine the share? Expenditure for teaching/academic hospitals Ancillary services expenditure Evening child care
2020 Yes. ISCED 01 is missing.  No deviation. No deviation. Excluded.

 

Cost of a dual-system programme to the employer. Adjustment of enrolments in case there is no data on expenditure at the workplace Expenditure for contributions on pension schemes Households' payments for private tutering Student living costs Ancillary services coverage
Information on expenditure by employers on apprentices is not available. All apprentices are included in FIN-STUDENTS. Malta employs a pay-as-you-go pension system. Current employees contribute to the current pensioners. The Household Bugetary Survey (HBS) adjusted by the Retail Price Index (RPI) is used to estimate item H17. Not applicable. No deviation.
8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not applicable.
8.2. Comparability - over time

The extent to which statistics are comparable or reconcilable over time.

 



 Main changes compared to data transmitted for the previous reference period
Enrolments Entrants Personnel Foreign languages learning Regional data Graduates Education expenditure Credit Mobility
Changes in the educational system no changes no changes no changes no changes Not Applicable no changes no changes no changes
Changes in the coverage no changes no changes no changes no changes Not Applicable no changes no changes no changes
Changes in the methodology As from academic year 2018/19, students are weighted according to the duration and intensity. As from academic year 2018/19, students are weighted according to the duration and intensity. As from academic year 2018/19, headcount personnel is weighted according to the intensity. no changes Not Applicable As from academic year 2018/19, graduates are weighted according to the duration and intensity. As from FIN 2017 an enhanced methodology and ISCED allocation was adopted. NSO plans to adopt the same enhancement measures for the previous years to ensure coherence and comparability. no changes
Other changes As from academic year 2020/21, students by orientation for ISCED 6 and ISCED 7 were reported. As from academic year 2020/21, entrants by orientation for ISCED 6 and ISCED 7 were reported. As from academic year 2020/21, personnel by orientation for ISCED 6 and ISCED 7 were reported. no changes Not Applicable As from academic year 2020/21, graduates by orientation for ISCED 6 and ISCED 7 were reported. no changes no changes

 

Main changes over time
Type of data Detailed variables concerned Reference year(s) Changes in the educational system Changes in the coverage Changes in the methodology Other changes
 ALL  ISCED 2013/2014 no changes no changes Upper secondary education (Form 4 and Form 5) - Reclassification from ISCED 2 to ISCED 3. Recoded for all time series. no changes
 ALL  ISCED 2012/2013 no changes no changes ISCED 97 TO ISCED 11. Recoded for all time series. no changes
 ALL  FIELDS 2014/2015 no changes no changes Fields of study 1999 classification to 2013 classification. Recoded for all time series. no changes
 ALL  ISCED 2017 no changes no changes Students attending vocational institutions at level 4 recoded for all time series from ISCED 45 to ISCED 35. no changes
Graduates  ISCED 2-3 2014-2015 onwards no changes no changes Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes. no changes
8.2.1. Length of comparable time series

Data prior to academic year 2012/2013 has not been revised to include the reclassification of upper secondary education and is therefore not comparable to other data. 

ISCED 11 was used, as requested, for the first time for academic year 2012/2013. Previous data is classified by ISCED 97.

Fields classification 2013 was used as from 2014/2015, and applied as from academic year 2012/2013. Previous data is classified by Fields classification 1999.

ISCED 45 was revised and recoded into ISCED 35. This change has been applied as from academic year 2012/2013.

Reclassification of graduates at ISCED 3 for students obtaining 2+ passes as from academic year 2014/2015.
8.3. Coherence - cross domain

The extent to which statistics are reconcilable with those obtained through other data sources or statistical domains.

 

Name of the national publication Coherence issues
 Further and Higher Education Statistics  MQF level vis-a-vis ISCED level; MFHEA includes also short courses, and all homegrown courses, some of which might not be delivered in Malta.
8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Not applicable.
8.5. Coherence - National Accounts

The extent to which statistics are reconcilable with National Accounts.

 

Calculation method Scope of education
 By ISCED  UOE in scope only.
8.6. Coherence - internal

Some aggregated data is shared on an annual basis with other units within NSO and consistency with their datasets is assured.


9. Accessibility and clarity Top
9.1. Dissemination format - News release

The following news releases in relation to Education Statistics were published during 2021. These cover scholastic years 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020:
9.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Students and Graduate data are included in the NSO's publication 'Regional Statistics MALTA 2022 Edition'

(https://nso.gov.mt/themes_publications/regional-statistics-malta-2021-edition/)
9.3. Dissemination format - online database

Not available.
9.3.1. Data tables - consultations

Not available.
9.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

No microdata access is available on this topic.

NSO grants access to anonymised microdata under strict conditions to institutions or persons regarded as research entities or researchers. Further information about access to microdata from NSO can be retrieved through: https://nso.gov.mt/access-to-microdata/
9.5. Dissemination format - other

Ad hoc requests for statistical information can be made through the NSO online portal: https://workflow.gov.mt/Runtime/Runtime/Form/01+NSO+Request+for+Statistical+Information/?language=en
9.6. Documentation on methodology

Metadata file is available on the NSO's website and can be accessed at: https://metadata.nso.gov.mt/
9.7. Quality management - documentation

The UOE methodological manual supplied by Eurostat, ISCED and FIELDS manuals are constantly consulted in order to ensure full conformity with Eurostat definitions.

All methods are documented in a quality report which is updated annually.

Consistency checks are carried out with data provided during previous academic years and coherence tests are made with the use of other auxiliary sources.
9.7.1. Metadata completeness - rate

N/A
9.7.2. Metadata - consultations

N/A


10. Cost and Burden Top

Indication of the cost associated with the collection and production of a statistical product and burden on respondents.

 

Time spent (in working days) Comments
Not available The process to compile and analyse education data is a lenghty one. In fact, three statisticians work on the data collection, cleaning, analysis and dissemination of Education statistics.


11. Confidentiality Top
11.1. Confidentiality - policy

At National level: Confidentiality is one of the major principles guiding the activities of the NSO.

The NSO is governed by the Malta Statistics Authority Act – Cap. 422 of the Laws of Malta.  Articles 40 and 41 of the Act stipulate the restrictions on the use of information and, the prohibition of disclosure of information.  Moreover, all persons working and handling data have to be appointed ‘officers of statistics’ and take the oath of secrecy as prescribed in the same Act before undertaking any work.  This is followed by Section IX of the Act (Offences and Penalties) which lays down the measures to be taken in case of unlawful exercise of duty by any officer of statistics regarding confidentiality of data. No cases of breaches in the law have been recorded to date.

Since its inception, the NSO has always operated within a culture of strict confidentiality to which it is also bound by the provisions of the Data Protection Act – Cap. 586 of the Laws of Malta.  

Refer also to the NSO policy on access to microdata on the NSO's website through: https://nso.gov.mt/en/Services/Microdata/Pages/Access-to-Microdata.aspx

An internal Statistical Disclosure Committee ensures that statistical confidentiality is observed and analyses requests for microdata received by the NSO.

At European level: Regulations (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics and its amending Regulation 2015/759, stipulate the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Education statistics are released in aggregated format. 


12. Comment Top

No further comments.


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top
Annex 1 - Provisions for language learning 2021 – Malta
Annex 2 - ISCED Mapping for schoolyear 2020/2021 (UOE2022) – Malta
Finance Questionnaire Tertiary 2020
Finance Questionnaire Church 2020
Finance Questionnaire 2020 PP-PS
Further and Higher Tertiary Questionnaire 20.21
Post-Secondary Questionnaire 20.21
Personnel Questionnaire 20.21
Pre-Primary Questionnaire 20.21
Primary Questionnaire 20.21
Secondary Questionnaire 20.21
Graduates Questionnaire 20.21