In his letter of September 30, Owen Bonnici asks: “Why is it so hard to tell the truth sometimes?” He does so when referring to an EU report that established that Malta registered a remarkable 50 per cent increase over eight years in the number of students pursuing tertiary education compared to the 20 per cent EU average growth.

One wonders why Dr Bonnici finds it so hard to accept this truth, a truth that emerges from a study conducted and published by the EU.

Dr Bonnici, Labour spokesman for higher education, should be delighted to hear such good news. Instead, he plays around with statistics to come up with a negative view of the excellent results achieved by Malta in so many sectors of education. The gloomy outlook is part of the Labour Party’s strategy to gain political points.

The thousands of youngsters who are continuing their education beyond compulsory age are witness to the success our country is registering in this particular field.

The spokesman should, this week, spend some time watching the crowds of young people move into the University, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, the Institute of Tourism Studies, the Junior College and the other Sixth Form institutions, enjoy the sight and wish them well in their studies.