Year 7 Students Start Receiving Laptops

As of today, laptops are being distributed to all Year 7 students across both state and non-state schools in Malta. This marks the start of the One Device Per Child (ODPC) project, an initiative worth €54 million that is co-financed by national and European funds. The project’s first phase will be rolled out during the 2025/26 academic year and will cover students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima, described the launch as the delivery of an electoral manifesto promise. Speaking during a visit to Maria Regina College in Naxxar, where the first laptops were distributed, he was joined by Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

Each secondary school student will now have a personal laptop and access to high-quality digital learning resources. Educators will also receive continuous training to effectively integrate digital tools into their teaching. The project aims to bridge the digital divide and equip the next generation with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital society.

Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi highlighted the importance of equal access to modern education, noting that European funds are helping to ensure fair opportunities for all students. He said the initiative is about preparing children for the digital economy and future job markets.

The project has four key aims: to improve access to education at school and at home, to promote inclusive and high-quality learning, to enhance digital engagement, and to reduce early school leaving through better digital skills.

Alongside the laptops, students will receive curriculum-aligned digital content. Safety measures have also been introduced, including filtering software. The initiative supports Malta’s National Strategy for Education and aligns with the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan, reinforcing the country’s commitment to digital literacy and inclusion.

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Photo Source: DOI – Clodagh O’Neill