Marcus Lauri
Over the past two decades, Malta has undergone a significant transformation in its educational and economic structures, although results have not always been positive. The revival of MCAST in 2001, after its shameful dismantling in 1979, unified the country’s post-secondary technical institutes and elevated vocational education to the status of a nationally recognised institution.
Yet, in our rush to modernise, we lost something crucial: many traditional trades that once sustained our communities and local economy.
Today, Malta finds itself in an ironic situation: while the European Union calls on its member states to accelerate the transition to a circular economy – one built on repair, reuse and resource efficiency – the very trades that make this possible have quietly faded from our everyday lives.
Ask around today – finding someone to repair a broken appliance, mend shoes or restore a piece of furniture is increasingly difficult. Independent repair shops have become rare and skilled artisans – watchmakers, cobblers, seamstresses and appliance technicians – are disappearing. The shift wasn’t accidental. As MCAST expanded into applied sciences, ICT and engineering, many niche craft programmes were either discontinued or absorbed into broader courses.
This has led to a societal shift: a culture of replacement over repair. And, due to the current scenario where there is a dearth of independent repair shops, buying new products has become easier and cheaper than fixing old ones.
Furthermore, every replacement carries an ecological cost: raw materials, energy, transportation and waste all accumulate, while Malta’s small landmass struggles with disposal. The circular economy – focused on repair, reuse and material efficiency – is impossible to achieve without skilled tradespeople who can restore and prolong the life of everyday items.
The problem is systemic – driven by global markets that profit from disposability but reinforced locally by the gradual disappearance of the skills and services that could make repair a more viable alternative.
It is also a matter of social justice and dignity in work. Vocational education has long been undervalued; yet, it underpins every functioning economy. Respecting and supporting manual skills fosters equality, community pride and local resilience.
Repair, restore and reuse – not replace – should be our guiding principle.
Economically, there is also a strong case. Repair and restoration trades generate green jobs, reduce reliance on imports and keep money circulating within local communities. Every repaired appliance, piece of clothing or furniture item reduces the need for new production, lowering emissions and resource extraction. Supporting these sectors aligns perfectly with circular-economy principles, delivering both environmental and economic benefits.
Every time an appliance is repaired rather than replaced, raw material extraction, shipping emissions and waste disposal are avoided. Each tradesman and repair shop keeps money circulating locally rather than flowing to multinational manufacturers. This does not mean dismantling MCAST’s achievements. Instead, vocational education should celebrate the full spectrum of skills, from high-tech engineering to traditional crafts.
There are already short courses available. Possibly we could have more dedicated programmes and micro-credentials in traditional trades at MCAST, together with partnerships with local councils and community workshops for hands-on training.
Public investment in repair hubs and right-to-repair legislation is another policy option. Malta has always been a nation of makers – from stonemasons and carpenters to artisans and boatbuilders. These skills shaped our identity and built our economy. As we face climate and resource challenges, we must reclaim this heritage and use it in our favour.
Repair, restore and reuse – not replace – should be our guiding principle.
Reviving traditional trades is not merely an economic adjustment; it is a political and ecological choice: to value people, skills and sustainability over waste and disposability.
If Malta truly wants a circular economy, it must invest in the hands and minds that can make it real.
Marcus Lauri is an executive committee member of ADPD-The Green Party.
