Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening said that he wanted to send a strong message of solidarity to all university students who, he said, had been attacked continuously by the Labour Party and its media after taking part in the political debate at the University on Monday.

"Serious politics need serious politicians. It can’t be that we call whoever does not agree with us ‘marmalja’ and ‘hamalli’. These are things of the past," he said.

Dr Gonzi made his remarks at a party activity in Rabat. During the activity a number of teachers spoke against the MLP proposal to introduce a reception class,

Among them was Joseph Degiovanni, former secretary-general of the Malta Union of Teachers who said he did not see the need for this repeat year as young children were already being well prepared for primary education.

‘Through our vote we need to send a clear message to Dr Sant that there is no more place for experimental schooling. Labour has already meddled (bazwar) enough with the future of our children,’ Dr Gonzi said, referring to past examples such as the closure of church schools, the numerus-clauses imposed at university and the changes introduces in the stipend system.

Dr Gonzi said that while the MLP is proposing that children become repeaters, the Nationalist Party will keep on investing, taking education levels in Malta to new heights.