Primary school registrations increase from past years

Oct 4 2021

Figures released by the Education Ministry show that 36,000 students are attending State schools for the upcoming academic year. Kindergarten has 5,981 students, primary schools have 15,827 and secondary schools 12,143.

1,987 students are attending post-secondary education, with the education ministry stating registration for primary school was higher than in previous years. The students were distributed in 106 schools and educational centres.

A total of 7,071 heads, educators, LSEs, KGEs and administrative staff are involved. Education Minister Justyne Caruana stated that the determination and commitment of educators to ensure that children receive their education physically in schools is clear as this is the best place for education to take place. The ministry also confirmed that attendance for the upcoming academic year will be compulsory.

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Photo Source: Justyne Caruana FB, Europass Teacher Academy

Metro-tram hybrid transport system proposed by green ADPD

Oct 4 2021

The Maltese Green Party ADPD suggested creating a hybrid metro-tram system at street level instead of the underground metro. The ADPD proposed transportation system would serve to avoid generating huge amounts of waste and result in massive land reclamation through dumping at sea. Apart from causing less environmental damage, their proposal would also be less costly and be implemented in a shorter time frame.

This comes after Transport Minister Ian Borg and Prime Minister Robert Abela unveiled a proposal to develop a 25-station and €6.2 billion underground metro system. For the ADPD however, the announcement only conveyed ‘scant information’, stating that it is clear the government has reports by international consultancy firm Arup explaining their metro proposals in detail.

The ADPD stated that these reports have not yet been published and it is impossible to have a serious public consultation exercise if these reports are not made public. The party added that the project’s website does not contain detailed information explaining the proposals being made.

The main issue to be considered seriously is whether the proposed metro should be mainly above ground or underground due to the amount of waste generated, primarily excavation waste. ADPD said the country needs a clear vision on transport and not a blurred proposal.

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Photo Source: Indra Infra Hub

Three arrested after police confiscate around €600,000 worth of cocaine

Oct 4 2021

Three individuals suspected to be members of an international drug trafficking ring were arrested on Saturday after an operation resulted in the seizure of around €600,000 worth of cocaine. The police revealed on Monday that the arrests followed weeks of investigation and surveillance on the trio, all of them foreign nationals. Five kg of suspected cocaine with as street value of about €600,000 were confiscated.

The first arrest was that of a 20-year-old Spanish woman, with the operation carried out at Malta International Airport on Saturday. She was taken into custody upon arrival from Madrid. A 30-year-old man from Venezuela was arrested after being followed by police to an Msida apartment.

The police confirmed the man had also recently arrived from Madrid. Finally, a stakeout on a St Julians hotel on Sunday led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man, also from Spain, who was found in possession of more drugs believed to be cocaine. A magisterial inquiry is being led by Elaine Mercieca. The police confirm the investigation is still open, but the trio are to be arraigned in court on Monday before duty magistrate Noel Bartolo.

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Photo Source: Malta Police Force Communications

Government fulfils over two-thirds of 2021 budget measures

Oct 4 2021

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said in a press conference that over two-thirds of measures promised during the 2021 budget in 2020 were enacted into policy and functioning. Almost half of these are related to social assistance, with the government being able to implement 364 measures announced in last year’s budget as well as an additional 159 projects which were projected for completion in 2021.

Cutajar was speaking one week before next year’s budget is due to be presented in parliament as the Budget 2022 speech is set for October 11th. The purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, the voucher scheme, community policing, free internet to post-secondary students, Gozo fast ferry services, health centre modernisation, tele care improvement and financial schemes aiding the purchase of personal homes were some of the concluded projects.

In terms of projects which began this year but are set to be completed at a future date include the Central Link Project, the Marsaxlokk breakwater, the construction of a new school in Qawra and the closure of the fuel storage facility in Birzebbuga. Cutajar stated that any measure which had not been fulfilled would be rolled over into next year’s budget and no proposals were about to be put on the shelf indefinitely.

Cutajar pointed out how 49% were related to social projects, 26% to improving the environment and 25% addressed economic needs. He also highlighted how the government has achieved a 72% completion rate of budget proposals over the past eight years. 1,970 budget proposals have been implemented over that time period. This year, the government fulfilled 79% of budget promises, an increase of 7% over the average.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that all the new proposals and financial estimates for next year’s budget have been closed. He said that the resilience and work that the government had put into supporting health services and the economy would emerge as a clear narrative in his speech. He also claimed that compared to other countries, Malta managed to address the pandemic successfully, even though we were not perfect.

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Photo Source: Clyde Caruana FB