Prioritising education

If proof was ever needed that this Government prioritises the education sector, the budget presented last Monday is proof enough. The budget has confirmed this Government’s commitment towards this sector as a main pillar for economic growth with an end result of strengthening our standard of living – also by more expenditure and further strengthening the education sector.

Education plays an important part of our quality of life, as it is a basic need for a society to thrive and work towards a new economic vision for our country - in the long run, education leads us to a strong economy.

Investing in education is a commitment by this legislature. The more than two billion euros allocated through EU funds last July will also be used to continue to strengthen the necessary investments in sectors including education.

The budget speech referred to our ongoing infrastructural investment. Having just inaugurated the new Qawra Primary School, the completion of another phase of the Żejtun Secondary School and soon the inauguration of the completion of the restoration of the School of Arts in Valletta, last Monday we also heard the Ministry’s plans for the coming year.

This includes the construction of two new schools - the Primary

School in Rabat, Gozo and that of Msida, but also the modernization of the Santa Lucija Secondary School and St. George's Primary School in Qormi.

2021 will see new investments in education: a new sports complex at the University of Malta, which will include, among others, facilities for the performing arts; an indoor track for athlete training; a full size football pitch; an Olympic track and a new building for the Institute of Physical Education and the School of Performing Arts. Apart from these, the building of more facilities at MCAST which will provide access for students, employees and the surrounding community to sports, recreational, and educational facilities are on the cards.

This Government is highly committed to invest in educational infrastructure to have a better educational future for our children and future generations.

Another commitment is that of the continuation of our priority to provide learning opportunities for all children, young people and adults to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace and in society. This is being done in the framework of a strategy for our education system, which should lead to a further reduction, gradually, in the rate of early school leavers; the increase in adults aged 30-34 with tertiary level qualifications and a greater participation in adult learning.

These last months has confirmed the importance of technology and schooling. This budget announced that the Government will be providing free internet access, for a full year, to those students who choose to continue their studies after completing their secondary school studies.

Education is not solely the responsibility of our country’s educators, who are doing a brilliant job in the circumstances we are all living due to the

COVID outbreak – parents are the first educators and also have to support our educators in this responsibility. To further enhance the educational experience for our children, the Government will also be offering online sessions, for parents, to work with teachers to contribute and provide a better education for their children.

Education features in other important sectors as well. The budget speech announced that all members of the Disciplinary Forces will continue to receive training over the next year, both in Malta and abroad. The Academy for Disciplinary Bodies will continue the accreditation process with the National Commission for Advanced and Higher Education (NCFHE) and the first accredited course will be the basic training of Police Corps recruits.

A healthy society is a society which gives priority to education. As the Minister responsible, I again pledge my commitment to see that this sector is given its due priority to benefit all our children and future generations.