Free Period Products For Over 11,000 Students In Local Schools

More than 50 secondary schools across Malta and Gozo have begun being equipped with machines that will provide free period products to students.

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, announced the End the Stigma. Period! project at St Thomas More Secondary School in Żejtun.

Through this initiative, around 11,000 students will have access to free period products.

She explained that the project aims to tackle the stigma and taboo that still surround this natural process.

The goal, she said, is to encourage open discussion on a subject that should not cause embarrassment or shame.

The Parliamentary Secretary said the provision of these products represents an investment of half a million euro, which she described as fully justified as it strengthens equality.

The measure is expected to reduce disadvantages that negatively affect the educational progress of female students. Studies show that menstruation often leads to school absences and missed lessons.

Buttigieg also noted that the initiative will ease the financial burden on families and complements this year’s Budget measure which removed VAT on these essential products.

She added that the project, which also contributes to health and hygiene, will be fully implemented this year across all state, church, and private secondary schools following a pilot project carried out last year

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