The Award Locally

The Award Programme was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as a means to encourage and motivate young people over the age of 14 years to become involved in a balanced programme of voluntary self-development activities. The Award Programme was then taken up by a number of Commonwealth Countries, Malta being one of the first countries to take it up.

It was launched in Malta in 1961 as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Malta Branch, but it then changed its name first to The Award and then to The President’s Award – Malta.

In 1988 a number of countries who were using this programme,(Malta included), founded The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association, to act as a means for discussion and communication between National Award Authorities and to uphold the principles and standards of the Award Programme. These Principles and Standards were set out in the Declaration, the Fundamental Principles, the Operational Principles and the Code of Practice, to which all Operating Authorities, whether at local or national level, subscribe.

The President’s Award falls under the aegis of The Ministry of Education. The Patron of the award is The President of Malta.

The programme has now been introduced to a number of non commonwealth countries.

For operational and administrative purposes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association has adopted a regional structure which consists of four regions, Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States. Malta forms part of the Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States.

The Operating Authorities are those schools, colleges, clubs, associations who apply to the Executive committee to include the Award Programme within their own programme.

The following are the Operating Authorities:

Schools and Colleges