[attach id=289695 size="medium"]A pilot project will be rolled out in selected schools to introduce the ‘one tablet per child’ scheme.[/attach]
The education sector proves to be one of the main money grabbers for a country that provides free education, with another €43 million being pumped into the sector for a total expenditure of €397 million.
The allocated funds, an increase of 12 per cent over 2013, will translate into building five new schools, an increase in stipends and a fully paid one year sabbatical for teachers, among others.
Harking back to the pre-election computer tablet war between the Nationalist and Labour parties, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said a pilot project would be rolled out to introduce the ‘one tablet per child’ initiative.
Next year, a select number of schools will be taking part in a pilot project which will study both hardware and software.
Research will also be carried out to identify the teachers’ digital competences and discuss the necessary training needed to ensure the project’s success. The Government will be allocating €80,000 for this purpose.
The minister did not state whether the initiative would be applying to Year 4 students as per the pre-election pledge.
Prof. Scicluna said the Government would also be giving importance to life-long learning.
“The administrative structure of the educational system needed change.
“We will be giving power back to teachers, parents, heads of schools and principals to carry out the plans for their schools.”
Following up on the Labour Party’s pre-election pledge, Prof. Scicluna said the Government intended to begin a consultation process with the Malta Union of Teachers on providing a year’s sabbatical for teachers.
The sabbatical will allow teachers to benefit from paid leave while they undertake courses intended to further their professional development and attainment. Stipends for students will increase regularly according to the annual cost–of-living-adjustment (COLA) on a pro-rata basis from January 1, 2014.
Next year’s stipend will therefore see an increase of 1.9 per cent.
This measure will cost the Government some €250,000.
Also from January, stipends will be offered to students undertaking veterinary courses abroad.
They will receive €300 per month.
We will be giving power back to teachers, parents, heads of schools and principals to carry out the plans for their schools
Post-doctoral students will also benefit from grants.
The age limit for students maintained by their parents will increase to 23 from 21.
Parents of students attending the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and the Institute of Tourism Studies will also qualify for tax allowance.
In June, the Government announced a €15 million programme targeted at the maintenance and upgrading of schools. The Government will also be building five new schools, the locations of which will be announced shortly.