This week saw the end of a four-session parliamentary debate on amendments to the Refugees Act. In essence, the amendments look at definitions of refugee and humanitarian status but the debate itself, as expected, was wide-ranging, reflecting the concerns that mass immigration inherently raises, especially in a country the size of ours.

While other European countries are discussing third-generation immigrants and their integration, Malta is still in the very early stages of trying to come to terms with the immigration phenomenon. When it started at the beginning of the millennium there were many who believed that it was but a transitory and temporary happening. The regular inflow over the past eight summers proves otherwise.

The movement of people from south to north of the Mediterranean, from eastern to western Europe is a sweeping one. In speaking of immigration one must distinguish between two main categories of migrants: those who chose their country of residence and are readily accepted in the host country and soon become contributors to the host country's economy, and those migrants who come from Third World countries in search of freedom from persecution and better living standards. The second category is not particularly welcomed by the host country and its citizens and are perceived to be, and may actually become, a burden rather than contributors to a country and its economy.

Malta has a number of the first group. They have integrated well and merged smoothly into our society. We rarely think of them as immigrants, although they are. It is the second category that gives cause for concern.

In relative terms, the numbers coming to Malta are significant. Our closed centres are full and our open centres are bursting at the seams. In spite of repeated and strong Maltese requests for burden-sharing by other member states, the European Union has been very slow to respond to the call, although individual states have made token gestures on their own behalf. Resettlement schemes for those who wish to move on to other countries would ease our situation and it cannot be emphasised enough that the majority of those who arrive in Malta desperately long to move on.

Seven EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs have now arrived at a draft agreement with regard to repatriation of rejected asylum seekers. But even this is easier said than done as the whole process is fraught with difficulties.

In 2005, the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs and the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity issued a government policy document with the title Irregular Immigrants, Refugees And Integration, which set out the guidelines to ensure fair, just and humane treatment of irregular immigrants. It outlined standard procedures and practices when dealing with asylum seekers. It looked at the process of social inclusion of asylum seekers and at the orderly removal of irregular immigrants who are ineligible for refugee or humanitarian status.

That document is definitely up for review after three years, although its basis remains essentially sound. In this legislature the full responsibility for the welfare of immigrants lies within the remit of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs. A wise move because an integrated approach invariably achieves quicker and better results.

The ministry is ably helped by the Organisation for the Welfare and Integration of Asylum Seekers, made up of a dedicated group of people who look beyond the crisis and emergency stages of the migratory phenomenon.

This year is the Year of Intercultural Dialogue. It is the year that is placing focus on the process that centres around an open and respectful exchange or interaction among individuals, groups and organisations with different cultural backgrounds.

It is about celebrating and sharing diversity, about increasing and developing a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and practices. The need to strengthen mutual respect, tolerance and understanding among people of different ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds is strongly felt in today's world. The failure to do so results in a high price to pay.

A recent informal council for Education Ministers provided a useful platform to discuss the role of education in promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual respect, with schools as the primary fora for the creation of a common foundation of values among different cultures and religions based on human rights.

Our local schools have been very active on this front in the past few months with events highlighting diversity.

Today, most of our schools are multi-national and multi-lingual.

One school which recently invited resident ambassadors to an intercultural event boasted of students coming from 25 different nationalities.

They walked on to the stage: children of Maltese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Mexican, Italian, Ethiopian, German, Tunisian and Serbian parentage, among others, all sharing the same classroom and the same teacher.

This is where it starts. An education in life based on an appreciation of the value of the human being per se and on diversity as an enrichment and a cause for celebration.

Mrs Cristina is Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.