Tomorrow’s politicians should be technical – Opposition leader

Addressing a political activity in Mellieha, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said this week Malta had the opportunity to see what a new Labour government would bring: "This week, the Maltese saw that an alternative government would mean 'safe'. It would bring a stable change. With prudence we will lead better."

Speaking on this week's vote in Parliament, Muscat said he felt it was his duty that, on national interests, he supported government on the measures that safeguarded Malta's needs:

"We did not embark on a populist and critic road but chose to support government. That was the right thing to do safeguard national interest. We sent a concrete message of stability."

He said the Opposition had no problem with agreeing to the constitutionalisation of the golden rule of a balanced national budget: "Prudence and discipline have long been our party's call."

He reiterated the importance of never skipping the line of fiscal harmonisation.

Muscat said economic growth is crucial for the reduction of deficit: "But most of the European leaders seem to have not realised this as yet. In Malta, it is clear that the PL is the party supporting businesses."

He added his party's attitude towards businesses was liberal, because the PL understood no wealth could be created without having the private sector as our partner.

"With tomorrow's Europe, yesterday's politics are no longer viable," Muscat warned. "Our country needs new measures of leadership, which combine together ideal and practice: politics with technical."

He said leaders should not remain focused on what happened 25 or 30 years ago. "Malta needs a new race of politicians who look ahead, aware of the good and bad of the past but who are focused on the success of the future.

"Politicians who have a strong technical background, who know what they are speaking about because they are experienced; politicians who are not blinded by money but are there to serve."

Muscat said Malta did not need a leadership which focused on one election after the other. "This leads to moral and financial failures. Our country needs a clear leadership who tells the public what can and cannot be done. We won't promise everything to everyone and then retract."

The Opposition leader said a new government will have big decisions to take: "This week is proof we are ready to take those decisions".

Speaking on education, Muscat said recent comments made by the Malta Union of Teachers "were worrying".

Earlier this week, MUT said it had been left out of the core committee that drew up the National Curriculum Framework and described the consultation process as propagandistic.

"We cannot experiment with our children's education," Muscat said. "We believe there is the need for a change in the curriculum. It is inevitable. The current tools are outdated.

"But investment in education is not only tied to the building of schools. We must also concentrate on the quality of the education."

Muscat described teachers as "tomorrow's builders", helping shape tomorrow's workers.

Muscat said it's common of the Maltese government to have good plans, but when it comes to implementation it fails continuously.

"We cannot accept a repetition of the Smart City saga in the education sector. The disastrous effect a failed education reform would have is immeasurable."

Muscat called on government to reply and explain himself to MUT's accusations.

Muscat said government failed to conduct the necessary analysis for the curriculum reform, and added this lack of focus by government is clear.

"We still have students who leave secondary school without the ability to read and write correctly Maltese or English. Nothing in the new curriculum addresses this. Nor does it address the need to keep students in school after reaching 16 years."

Muscat said he might not sound popular with certain sectors when speaking this way: "But education is important. Our first aim should be of deleting poverty from Malta. 21% of our children live in poverty, and this is linked with early school leavers."

"It is our vision to create social mobility," he said, and called on government to revisit the curriculum: "We will support you on this."

Muscat added a new Labour government would work hand-in-hand with teachers to achieve the curriculum that addresses the students' needs. He went on to say government should also address the tools needed by children with special needs, eradicate bullying and increase discipline.

He also spoke about the need to strengthen languages and sciences.

On energy, Muscat said Malta should not remain an oil slave. He said gas was the alternative to a cleaner energy. On Sargas, Muscat said it is not a pie in the sky, but a reality that is with us.

"The only thing government should have done from the first day was to commission a study and see whether this solution is viable. The study could reveal government could go for it, or not. But what problem is there in carrying this study?"