It was a light-hearted moment but Joseph Muscat this evening faced the first of many prospective 'squabbles' between siblings over a proposal to give eight-year-old students a free tablet.

When visiting the Mifsud family in Kalkara this evening, the Labour leader turned to the seven-year-old boy and told him that he will be getting a tablet next year.

The boy's father jokingly remarked that the proposal would cause friction between his younger son and the eldest, who is 11 years old.

Dr Muscat, who was accompanied by his wife Michelle, said Labour's pledge was "one the country could afford", in what was an indirect jibe at the Nationalist Party's plan to provide tablets to all primary and secondary school students.

Dr Muscat insisted the proposal was not simply "a gadget giveaway" but a pedagogical tool to help enhance literacy.

"We looked at what happens abroad and the age at which we are suggesting the tablet be given - year IV students - is ideal for the use of such a tool," Dr Muscat told Ernest and Marika Mifsud.

He said the tablet initiative was part of a wider plan to enhance the education system. Schools would be given more autonomy to take decisions and libraries would be improved and expanded, he added.

Sitting around the kitchen table in their modest apartment, the Mifsuds spoke about the difficulty of managing work-life balance, especially since Mr Mifsud works shifts.

Ms Mifsud stays at home to take care of her children. She said it was her wish to find work when the youngest son grew older.

Journalists were asked to leave after 10 minutes and the Mifsuds continued with their meeting with Dr Muscat and his wife in private.

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