Display of crucifixes in public institutions

Education Minister Dolores Cristina yesterday laid out the considerations for the display of crucifixes in educational institutions, on the basis that the Constitution declared that the Roman Catholic religion is the religion of Malta as a state.

Mrs Cristina was answering a parliamentary question by Labour MP Owen Bonnici, who asked what was the government's policy on the issue. The minister said in all schools and educational institutions the crucifix was displayed as an integral part of each classroom. In Church schools the crucifix was of special significance.

In independent schools it was up to the management to decide on whether or not to display the crucifix. At the University of Malta there had been no change with regard to the crucifix being displayed in lecture rooms. The number of them had remained static.

At the Institute of Tourism Studies, crucifixes were displayed in classrooms where theory lessons were imparted, as well as in offices.

As for Mcast, Minister Cristina said, the practice in educational institutions was that the crucifix was displayed prominently, such as in classrooms and training and educational halls, as well as in offices, but not necessarily in every classroom, hall or office. This was the practice perpetrated at Mcast.