Tablets have been handed out to 350 pupils, 32 teachers and 21 learning support assistants as part of a trial One Tablet Per Child project in primary schools, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this morning.

Speaking at Msida primary school, he said the project involves 20 primary state, church and independent schools throughout Malta and Gozo. Tablets were handed out to pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5.

The purpose of the project, he said, was to assist in the teaching process and particularly to improve literacy.

So far, he said, this was a pilot project which would also determine what type of tablet was most suited for school purposes.

An agreement is to be used with the Malta Union of Teachers over the use of the equipment.

Twelve companies have provided tablets and software for trial.

Mr Bartolo said his aim was to see all Year Four pupils have tablets as from the start of the 2016 scholastic year. The purpose of such a long roll-out was to ensure that teachers were adequately prepared, he said.

The authorities were also considering various factors, such as if tablets should be taken home by the pupils, the transition from books to tablets and the reduction in the weight of school bags.

A major concern that had been raised by teachers was the fear that they would not be in complete control of the children’s devices. However teachers will be given remote access to the children’s tablets while outside school hours, the Education Division would monitor activity on the tablets.

Although some pupils would be allowed to take the tablets home, they would not be given access to install applications.