A Fresh Start in education: modern schools, a relevant curriculum and greater respect for educators

The Partit Nazzjonalista has always believed that education is the foundation of every generation and, in Government, as it has always done, it will invest strongly in education and in the development of all children and young people.

Education in Malta needs A Fresh Start. It needs a vision that does not look only at today, but aspires to a successful future and looks ahead to the future of our children, our families and the whole country. That is why a new Nationalist Government will once again invest seriously in schools, education professionals, the curriculum, digital skills, vocational training and an education system that truly gives every child the opportunity to succeed.

During a Partit Nazzjonalista press conference addressed by PN candidates Justin Schembri and George Vital Zammit, further details were presented about the PN’s proposals for the education sector.

The speakers said that the Partit Nazzjonalista believes education is not merely about classrooms and desks, but is the foundation of Malta’s future. That is why the PN’s proposals treat education as national infrastructure for innovation, social mobility, productivity and an economy built on skills and focused on the future.

In this context, a new Nationalist Government will implement a national education infrastructure plan based on the real needs of localities and communities. This includes the commitment to build a new school every year, while carrying out an extensive programme of modernisation and maintenance in existing schools so that they are of better quality, safer and equipped for today’s needs. New schools will be modern, with good sports facilities, clean and renewable energy, modern technologies and environments that move away from the old model of schools built simply as blocks of classrooms.

The Partit Nazzjonalista is also proposing a National STEAM School and a STEAM Innovation Campus — a school and campus focused on the sciences, with advanced laboratories, maker spaces, collaboration with the University, start-ups and industry. This will be a key proposal for Malta to build a new pipeline of talent in areas such as AI, robotics, data science, bioengineering and creative design. At the same time, maker spaces and STEAM laboratories should be introduced in every secondary school so that every student has practical exposure to technology, design and problem-solving.

Early years education is an important part of this vision. A new Nationalist Government will strengthen Childcare Centres so that they are of the highest standard, provide more training to childcarers, increase support for Kindergarten Educators and introduce early screening for children, including referrals for speech therapy, psychological support and other services where needed. Early intervention means that difficulties are identified before they grow, and that children receive the help they need from the very beginning.

The Partit Nazzjonalista will also carry out a review of the curriculum so that it is more relevant to today’s world. The curriculum should strengthen basic skills, digital and emerging skills, while giving due recognition to the Maltese language as the country’s national language. At the same time, the PN wants a fairer assessment system, with less pressure from repetitive testing, more continuous feedback, clear criteria and reform of School-Based Assessments so that all students, including those with special educational needs, have a fair opportunity for recognition.

At vocational and post-secondary level, a new Nationalist Government will invest seriously in MCAST, ITS, the Junior College and Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School. This includes equipment, laboratories, workshops and modern facilities so that these institutions can prepare students for new sectors and for a changing world of work. The PN is also proposing that the Alternative Learning Programme be extended to every college and offered from Year 9, while these structures would also serve as regional crafts centres after school hours.

The PN also believes that there can be no quality education without respected and supported educators. That is why it is proposing a system of licensing and warrants for educators, including LSEs and KGEs, as well as a solution to the seniority issue affecting LSEs. Teachers will also be given structured time for planning, collaboration and analysing students’ progress, together with wellbeing programmes and psychological support to reduce burnout.

The Partit Nazzjonalista will also strengthen direct support for students. From next October, a Government led by Alex Borg will increase all student stipends by 25%, while students in nursing, healthcare and strategic sectors where there is a shortage of professionals will receive a stipend rising to around €1,000 per month. The PN is also proposing additional assistance for Gozitan students and stamp duty credits for students during their studies.

These proposals show a clear vision: an education system that begins in the earliest years of a child’s life, strengthens schools, respects educators, updates the curriculum, links education with industry and gives every student a concrete path towards their future.

The Partit Nazzjonalista believes Malta cannot continue measuring success in education only by the number of buildings or promises on paper. We must measure it by the quality of schools, the conditions of teachers, the skills of children, the opportunities available to students and the country’s ability to build a future in which success is enjoyed by everyone.

A Nationalist Government, together with professionals in this sector, will give education A Fresh Start so that every student can reach their full potential and grow into citizens who aspire to keep learning throughout their lives — and who have the opportunity to do so.

20.05.2026