There was a time when a solid foundation in the classics was a prerequisite for any student with dreams of making it big. 

Not anymore. 

There wasn't a single teacher of Latin or Greek in all Maltese secondary schools - state, church or independent - last year, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo revealed this evening. 

Mr Bartolo made the revelation in answer to a series of parliamentary questions by Nationalist Party MP Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. 

It would appear moribund interest in the two languages is not a flash in the pan: according to Mr Bartolo, state schools haven't bought a book written in Greek in at least the past two years.

 

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