14.3% of New Students In Malta In 2021/22 Year Were Of Foreign Citizenship

Oct 25 2023

In the 2021-2022 academic year, total student enrolment in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education reached 58,377, showing a slight increase of 0.6% from the previous year. Among these students, 51.9% were male, with a minor 0.1% rise in female enrolment compared to the prior academic year.

Age-wise, 46.1% of students fell between 5 to 10 years, while 37.3% were in the 11-15 year bracket. State-run schools accounted for 58.9% of total enrollments, followed by church schools at 27.4%, and independent schools at 13.7%.

Mandatory education saw 49,033 students, with 55.1% in primary and 44.9% in secondary schools. State-run schools attracted over half of the enrollments at each level. Average class sizes varied, with primary classes having 17.2 students and secondary classes having 18.7. State schools had the smallest class sizes, while church schools had the highest, notably in ‘Year 6’ with 23.8 students per class.

In terms of districts, the Northern Harbour hosted the largest share of school levels (33.7%), closely followed by the Southern Harbour (18.9%). A significant majority of students attended schools in the Northern Harbour (37.5%), followed by the Southern Harbour (17.1%).

Regarding nationality, 85.7% of students were Maltese, while 14.3% were foreign citizens. Among these, 60% were non-EU nationals. The largest groups of foreign students were Italian (13.4%), British (8.0%), Syrian (7.2%), Serbian (6.3%), and Libyan (6.0%). Italian was the most popular foreign language studied at secondary level (54.4%), followed by French (25.3%).

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Accident Victim Airlifted To Mater Dei: At Risk Of Dying

Oct 25 2023

Today, at around 0730hrs, police were informed that their assistance was needed in Triq ir-Repubblika, Rabat, Gozo.

Police convened immediately on site and preliminary investigations showed that a 63 year old resident of Żebbuġ, Gozo had been hit by a Citroen Berlingo driven by a 31 year old man resident of Rabat, Gozo.

The 63 year old man was given preliminary aid and was taken to Gozo General Hospital, where he was certified as having suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Mater Dei Hospital with a helicopter for further medical assistance.

An inquiry has been opened and investigations are ongoing.

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6 To Be Charged With Involuntary Homicide Of Carmelo Fino

Oct 25 2023

Four security officers, a caregiver, and a nurse are set to face charges in court for the involuntary homicide of Carmelo Fino, who went missing from St Vincent de Paul home last year.

The accused employees, who were summoned to appear in court in July 2024, will be charged with both involuntary homicide and causing harm to Fino.

After the elderly resident’s disappearance, they were put on suspension with half pay as per the instructions of the Public Service Commission. Fino, aged 83, had left the care home during the night on June 28, 2022, and tragically, he was discovered deceased a few weeks later.

CCTV footage revealed his movements towards the main gate and the guard room, ultimately exiting. Hospital regulations mandate the closure of the main gate between 11 pm and 7 am, but the footage indicated that it was left open for most of that night.

The six individuals facing charges were suspended following an inquiry that found they allegedly failed to adhere to established procedures. Nurse Rhys Xuereb requested a fresh investigation into the case and was subsequently reinstated in a different capacity.

Retired judge Geoffrey Valenzia’s inquiry determined that the security officers left the main gate unattended and open, while the caregivers and nurse failed to provide a handover confirming routine checks on residents throughout the night.

Their negligence in promptly reporting the disappearance led to confusion and allowed Fino to wander far from the facility. The inquiry emphasized that this incident occurred due to the neglect of fundamental practices in the care of vulnerable and elderly individuals.

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UBER Is Now Offering Hot Air Balloon Rides In Turkey

Oct 25 2023

Uber is venturing beyond ride-hailing in Turkey’s Cappadocia region by offering hot air balloon rides, aiming to diversify its services.

Available until November 19, this experience can be booked with a 12-hour advance notice through the Uber Reserve feature, costing 150 euros (approximately $159).

This fee covers a 1.5-hour sunrise balloon ride over Cappadocia’s captivating volcanic landscapes. Known for its ancient sites and unique terrain, Cappadocia drew about 10% of Turkey’s 44.6 million foreign tourists in 2022.

Uber reported a surge of over 30% in international trips to Turkey in 2023, with nearly 26 million people accessing the app this year. This initiative aligns with Uber’s broader strategy to evolve into an all-encompassing platform for everyday needs, as articulated by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in 2019.

This move follows Uber’s other non-ride offerings, such as Uber Boat rides along the Thames River and in Mykonos, tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka and India, and helicopter rides in New York.

In May, the company also introduced the capability to book flights for UK users. Despite reporting a 14% increase in second-quarter revenues to $9.2 billion in 2023, Uber’s stock value remains below its peak in 2021. The company also began displaying ads in its app across major US markets starting in June. Uber has not yet responded to requests for comment after regular business hours.

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