Government reiterates commitment in education sector

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Education Minister Dolores Cristina on a tour of the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School as they receive warm welcome by students.

24 January 2012, 12:00am
by Miriam Dalli

1 min read

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with students attending Higher Secondary

Students of the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School this morning gave Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife Kate a warm welcome as they visited the school grounds with Education Minister Dolores Cristina.

Four students also asked the Prime Minister questions about the current economic crisis, Malta's EU membership and alternative energy. One student asked whether eurozone member countries were doing enough to mitigate the crisis.

"Every country is doing its utmost to resolve the crisis. Everyone knows that without sacrifices, we will not be able to resolve it. Even Malta must continue working hard so that the good carried out so far will not be lost," Gonzi said.

Replying to another question, Gonzi said that the small size of the country didn't stop Malta from making an impact within the European Union and had influenced decisions over a number of issues.

The Prime Minister reminded how Malta's accession to the EU was also beneficial to the country in view of the EU's help in infrastructural projects. On energy, Gonzi said it was important for the country to make use of alternative energy sources: "In fact, government's aim is to convert energy through three main sources: the power station, the cable connecting Malta to Sicily and alternative energy sources."

Addressing the press at the school's library, Gonzi said more students were choosing to continue their post-secondary studies: "In 1999, the rate of students continuing to study was around 43%. This rate has today increased to 73%."

The Prime Minister added that such figures are the result of a consistent government policy that placed education as one of the pillars of the country's economy: "This is the result of policies which were not born yesterday."

Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...

More from Miriam Dalli

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Obviously there have been various good improvements in the education system. But even this has a price. It means spending in education has to be increased to continue with this momentum. I do not think that the current budget can do this and also it might not be possible in the near future. Unfortunately school teachers pay has been increased miserably whilst that of university academics has been increased out of proportion. If one notices the current esplosive increase of number of vacancies at university it is obvious that this is being done to employ persons before the coming election. The PL should take a good note of this for the university system will soon become unsustainable.

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The irony is that Gonzi and his entourage visited a school that had been opened in 1984, as Higher Secondary School, by a Labour Governmemnt! It was meant to give a second chance to those students who would have failed to pass their O levels and enable them to resit and take up courses at A level later. It was first situated on the 4th floor of the Junior College or sixth form at Msida and only later moved to Naxxar! One of the Headmasters who toiled to develop and evolve the Higher Secondary to the present post secondary institution was Mr Godfrey Testa a true educator and a labourite!!!!!!! Lest we forget!

Igor P. Shuvalov •

We are not in an election mode yet according to the Prime Minister.... and now we are told that the Prime Minister is touring schools and from the above report it is clear that these visits are part and parcel of an election campaign.