Where the parties stand | Education

The education debate has been characterised by both major parties trying to outdo each other in promising tablets to students. While the PN presented a holistic, albeit costly, proposal promising tablets to all students, the PL anticipated the PN by promising tablets for grade 4 students an hour before the PN presented its own proposal.

Labour was quick to launch billboards promising tablets for grade 4 students while the PN costed its proposal to hand over tablets to 50,000 students at €23.7 million, to Labour's €1.5 million.

AD was quick to pounce on the other parties, criticising them for turning education in to an electoral supermarket. 

On its part, the Prime Minister insisted that, that contrary to Muscat's frivolous tablet give-away, a PN government was aiming to give all students and teachers in public and private schools a tablet which will be equipped with their curriculum material. "We are not handing out games, but a real study tool," Gonzi insisted. 

But beyond the tablets, what are the parties promising? While all parties tend to agree on stipends and the need for investment in all sectors - with Labour pandering directly to teachers promising paid sabbaticals - AD distinguishes itself by advocating after-school programmes and questioning gender segregation in schools, while also proposing the direct election of the university rector by academics.