Five schools, comprising over 500 classes, are participating in a pilot project aimed at increasing students’ time in physical activities.

Announced as a success at a recent conference held at San Benedittu College, the initiative, first launched at Kirkop Primary School two years ago, currently involves five colleges and is planned to expand to all schools within two years.

Initiated in the 2022-2023 school year, the project seeks to establish daily physical activity sessions to promote long-term healthy habits.

Students now participate in four sessions each week, totalling 100 sessions per school year, marking an increase of one hour and forty minutes from prior physical education requirements.

According to survey results shared at the conference, football remains the most popular activity, followed by basketball and volleyball, with primary school students demonstrating the most enthusiasm.

Education Minister Clifton Grima noted that the increase in physical activity is associated with improvements in student attendance, personal development, and performance across subjects. Teachers have reported enhancements in student behaviour and productivity, which some parents also observed.

Now in its eighth year, the Sport Career Development Programme has enrolled over 1,500 students in 10 sports across 20 public schools and three private schools. Graduates of the program are eligible for an MQF Level 2 or 3 certification.

#MaltaDaily

At the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Malta’s Minister for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration, Miriam Dalli, focused on Malta’s approach to climate action through youth involvement and collaboration. Joined by Climate Ambassador Simone Borg, Minister Dalli attended the “Youth Lead the Way – A Global Centre for Climate Mobility” event, where she acknowledged the role of young people in addressing climate challenges, commending their contributions to solutions on climate mobility.

Minister Dalli shared that Malta’s government has launched the EU’s first Climate Action Authority to support youth-led climate strategies and encourage greater participation in policy discussions on climate issues.

At the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue, organised by the Greek Ministry, Dalli discussed Malta’s environmental challenges as a small island state, underscoring the need for regional partnerships to support equitable energy transitions. She highlighted Malta’s renewable energy projects, including offshore solar and wind initiatives, and expressed Malta’s commitment to supporting other small island nations facing similar climate risks.

COP29 serves as a platform for international cooperation on climate issues, with Malta participating actively in discussions on global climate solutions.

#MaltaDaily