Year 7 – 9 students in both state and non-state schools in Malta will be given a laptop for the upcoming school year, the education ministry has announced. 

The One Device Per Child project, worth €54 million and co-financed by state and EU funds, was unveiled by Education Minister Clifton Grima and Minister for EU Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi on Friday morning.

Speaking at St Theresa primary school in Msida, Grima said the government wanted to make sure children were equipped with all the necessary tools to navigate an ever-changing world. 

Labour’s 2022 electoral manifesto had committed to giving secondary students a free laptop. 

“Everything we do in life is now influenced by technology – the way we communicate, organise our day, work and travel – so it is important that our children have the confidence to use several tools that are crucial in today’s world,” he said, noting that around 14,000 students in both state and non-state schools across the country will benefi from the initiative.  

The project, he said, had four main aims: improving access to education; promoting inclusive and high-quality learning for every student, regardless of their background or abilities; strengthening digital engagement and Malta’s educational transformation; and reducing the rate of early school leaving. 

Grima added that the laptops were only one part of the investment. Students will also be given access to digital resources, while educators will receive ongoing training on how to effectively integrate digital tools into the classroom.  

He stressed that the laptops would also come with child protection tools.  

Zrinzo Azzopardi said the project showed that Malta was making wise use of the support of the European Union to invest in the future of the country’s children and young people.  

“The European Social Fund Plus is giving us the means to create a more modern and inclusive educational environment, which not only provides equipment but also strengthens digital skills and opportunities for every student. Our commitment is that European funds are not just numbers on paper, but a means to create new opportunities for every student,” he said. 

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