Education experts yesterday said the introduction of tablets in the classroom would have to be accompanied by teacher training.

Frederick Fearne, the father of Labour candidate Chris Fearne and a former Director of Education, said the introduction of tablets would invariably lead to teething problems and cautioned against a widespread roll-out across all years.

“I agree with Labour’s strategy to go for Year 4 students only because it will allow teething problems to be solved and teachers to be trained,” he said.

A similar concern was raised by former Malta Union of Teachers president John Bencini, who insisted that teachers had to be prepared for the tablet phenomenon.

The tablet debate took centre-stage on One TV’s Affari Tagħna hosted by John Bundy last night, recorded under a domed tent in Senglea.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat, who sat among the audience,

explained what a tablet is about to remove misconceptions among elders.

He said the tablet proposal formed part of the party’s plan to improve literacy. “Experts told us that Year 4 was the ideal entry point for such technology because it was a crucial year to hone literacy skills.”

He said the children would keep the tablet and asked whether the Nationalist Party’s proposal to lease tablets meant that children would have to return the gadget.

University lecturer Carmen Sammut said the tablet was not a magical device.

“This must not be a sexy gadget to attract votes... it has to be introduced thoughtfully in such a way that will help bridge the digital divide.”

Labour education spokesman Evarist Bartolo said the tablet proposal was among initiatives the party would be rolling out to improve literacy.

The tablet

• “A flat thing that one can touch and write on” – Joseph Muscat.

• “A computer... like a frame with a glass surface that does marvellous things” – John Bencini.