Maths, Maltese and English passes no longer required for JC entry

Mar 24 2022

Prospective Junior College students will no longer need to pass core subjects of Mathematics, Maltese and English to enter the post-secondary institution.

Previous to this change, a grade 5 or higher was required in all 3 subjects to enrol into JC. However, this massive change will require students to only have a pass in one of these subjects to enter Junior College.

The requirement of a pass in Maltese or one of the three sciences (physics, chemistry and biology) was also removed as part of necessary qualifications. The change was announced through a legal notice in the government gazette last week.

The news was not met with much coverage, with SideStreet Malta highlighting the recent change. However, the University of Malta still requires students to have passes in the three subjects.

This means that students looking to enter the University will have to sit for preparatory classes at JC itself to satisfy the UOM’s entry requirements.

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Over 4.3 million Ukrainian children displaced because of Russian invasion

Mar 24 2022

Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on the 24th of February 2022, around more than half of all children in Ukraine have been displaced from their homes.

The tragic numbers were revealed by the United Nations on Thursday, saying that one month of war in Ukraine has led to the displacement of 4.3 million children. This is more than half of the country’s estimated 7.5 million children population.

UNICEF said that children make up around half of over 10 million people who have had to flee their homes since the war began. Around 1.8 million children fled Ukraine as refugees, while another 2.5 million have been displaced in their own country.

UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said that the war caused one of the fastest large-scale displacements of children since World War II. ‘This is a grim milestone that could have lasting consequences for generations to come’ she said.

‘Children’s safety, wellbeing and access to essential services are all under threat from non-stop horrific violence’ she continued. With Ukrainians losing their lives and others defending the country, the UN human rights office confirmed that 81 children have been confirmed killed in the conflict.

Acknowledging that the numbers could be much higher, around 108 were reported injured. WHO also verified 64 attacks on health care such as hospitals and clinics since the war began.

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WHO official says COVID spike due to restrictions eased too soon

Mar 24 2022

A new spike in COVID-19 cases is hitting European nations, and a senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official blamed the scrapping of pandemic restrictions ‘too soon.’

The COVID-19 virus is back on the rise in 18 European countries, including Malta. Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for the continent told reporters that this was due to a sudden change in policy in several countries.

The measures were lifted ‘too brutally from too much to too few’ he said. Now, the sub variant BA.2 is causing a boost of infections. Kluge says he still remains optimistic but vigilant when it comes to beating COVID.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that most of new infections are due to this sub-variant. This comes as Malta experiences a spike but also a reduction in measures.

Around a month ago, before the general election campaign kicked off, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that Malta is undergoing a COVID exit roadmap. This would see the removal of all restrictions, allowing events to take place and removal of masks and vaccine mandates.

However, as of yesterday, Malta registered 2969 active cases after 375 new positive cases were detected. Fearne had however spoken about switching the focus on hospitalisations, which still seems to be manageable.

As of yet, Malta has 63 patients in Mater Dei, one of whom in the ITU. Fearne and the health authorities also credited the lack of severe infections to the vaccination rollout, with Malta boasting 1,253,673 jabs administered.

Could this be an indication of another round of measures or possibly another round of vaccine booster jabs? Local health authorities had said that no fourth booster shot rollout is in the plans, but that there are enough vaccines to address the need in Malta should it arise.

Fearne had also given three reasons as to why he thinks the spike is occurring, saying that increased social mobility, a colder than usual March and the variant are the three driving factors.

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Last chance to pick up vote documents today

Mar 24 2022

Today, the 24th of March 2022, is the very last day you can pick up your voting documents, without which one would not be allowed to head to the polls.

The Electoral Commission reminded the public that they can pick up the document from their Naxxar Office as well as the Identity Card Office in Pjazza San Frangisk in Rabat, Ghawdex. The offices are open from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:pm to midnight.

Any person going to pick up their document should do so personally and present their ID card. No other identification documents are being accepted when picking up the vote.

No voting documents can be printed, handed out or collected on the 25th and 26th of March according to law.

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