Publishing houses have already agreed to create content for tablets to be used in classrooms in line with the Nationalist Party’s main education pledge, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
He made the announcement yesterday as the PN approved and published its electoral programme, in which it vowed to “update” Malta’s neutrality clause, ensure that 40 per cent of public boards is made up of women and impose a constitutional ban on sexual orientation discrimination.
“It all boils down to this. This is our answer as to why you should vote for PN... if the country wins, you win too. If the country loses, you lose too,” Dr Gonzi told his party’s general council, urging voters to make a “responsible” choice for the future.
Over the next five years he wanted Malta to become the best financial centre in the world, one of the best digital centres and a hub of life sciences, he said.
He also underlined the PN’s proposals on childcare, healthcare and energy.
On the tablet proposal, Dr Gonzi said the crux was electronic content, not the tablet itself.
He said the tablets would feature books like those of Trevor Żahra because three well-known publishing houses (Klabb Kotba Maltin, BDL and Merlin) had already agreed to work on the concept that would replace heavy schoolbooks.
Other highlights that emerged yesterday included granting 16-year-olds the right to vote at local council elections, opening a €1,000 pension account for newborns and allowing people to donate part of their income tax to a beneficiary of their choice.
Unexpectedly, PN backtracked on the much-criticised consequence of the Budget that was proposed by the Government last year, which caused single minimum wage earners to be taxed on their income.
“Those whose only income is the minimum wage and the statutory bonuses will not pay income tax,” the electoral programme promises.
The programme contains 125 proposals, making it considerably lighter than the 2008 electoral programme, which had 353 pledges.
Most of the programme builds on the past: improving healthcare with a concerted battle against diabetes, solving long-standing issues with service pensions and introducing several family-friendly measures and employment incentives.
The PN also promised to build a permanent link between Malta and Gozo, step up the fight against animal cruelty and allowing people to vote in embassies abroad and improving the situation for people with disabilities when casting their vote.
The programme says that irregularities committed before the Mepa reform would be sanctioned under certain conditions and that a Business Unit would be set up within the planning authority to assist businesses and investors in commercial developments.
PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil, who authored the electoral programme, said that Ella Coppini, who graced the PN’s 2008 electoral programme when she was aged nine appearing on the front cover holding a sunflower, was once again the PN’s cover girl, now aged 14.
“Today, she lives in a proud, free, democratic country that will, next year, celebrate its 50th anniversary.
“When I was her age I was locked outside my own school. Back then, students used to protest in the streets. Today, they celebrate in the streets,” he said.
This electoral programme showed how the party would bring about “another leap in quality” for the country in all aspects and would help the PN win the next election, he said.
Beyond jobs, health and education...
1.Revise the Constitution, including updating the neutrality clause in line with today’s realities.
2.Laws declared anti-Constitutional will become automatically void, not just for those involved in the case.
3.Legal aid to be provided for victims of crimes appearing parte civile.
4.Constitution to introduce clause protecting against sexual orientation discrimination.
5.Voting will be permitted at embassies for those on holiday or living in EU countries, while voting for the disabled will become more adequate.
6.Public companies and entities must have 40 per cent female representation on boards and private companies will be urged to do the same by 2020.
7.Voting rights will be introduced for 16-year-olds at local council elections.
8.A solidarity fund will be set up so 0.5 per cent of income tax can be donated to a beneficiary of your choice.
9.Civil partnership for gay couples.
10.Strengthening the Commission for the Administration of Justice following consultation.
11.Unions for police and Civil Protection Department employees to be set up by end 2013; CPD personnel to get pension after 25 years service.
12.An extra 200 police officers will be placed on the beat around the islands.
13.Specialised Ombudsman to be set up for police cases to deal with police abuse.
14.Business Unit will be set up within the planning authority to assist businesses and investors in commercial developments.
15.Integration policy for immigrants.
16.Harsher penalties against animal cruelty.
17.A permanent link between Malta and Gozo according to the evaluations of various options.
18.Xewkija industrial estate to be expanded into Business Park and a Business Centre will be set up in Victoria.
19.An official for Gozo would be appointed to Maltese Representation in Brussels.
20.Water management plan to be implemented.
21.Pension account to be opened for each child with €1,000 deposited.