
Malta has continued to reduce its rate of early leaving from education and training (ELET), reaching 9.6% in 2024, according to data published by Eurostat.
This marks a notable improvement from 18.1% in 2012 and a sharp decline from a peak of 33% in 2005. Malta is now just 0.6 percentage points away from the EU’s 2030 target of reducing ELET to 9%, and only 0.3 points below the current EU average.
The Ministry for Education attributed the progress to sustained investment in prevention strategies. “This positive result is the fruit of sustained investment in proactive prevention strategies,” said Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, Clifton Grima, who added that the progress reflects a collective effort to improve educational outcomes.
Malta’s approach includes initiatives such as the Family Community School Link (FCSL) programme, which strengthens support systems around students by involving families and local communities.
The government’s ongoing efforts were reinforced by the launch of a new ELET strategy in 2024, forming part of the National Education Strategy 2024–2030. Grima said the goal is to create “an inclusive and equitable education system” and to move towards “a more student-centred and holistic” approach.
Since 2017, Malta has registered the largest decrease in ELET among EU countries, placing it ahead of several member states, including Italy, Hungary, Denmark, Germany, and Spain.
#MaltaDaily