State school laboratories will be equipped with 3D printers and scanners as part of a €15.4 million investment, the government said yesterday.
Of the total sum, €12 million were EU funds reinvested in the education sector after the European Court of Auditors decided to withhold payment of 25 per cent of the EU funds allocated to the Coast Road project.
That decision was due to concerns over how contracts were awarded, the government said. That money instead went into environment and education projects.
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that classrooms would also be equipped with a centralised system that would enable teachers to give interactive lessons using available equipment, including interactive whiteboards and the 3D printers, without having to wire their own laptops.
He said teachers would often complain that wiring up their laptops could take up to 20 minutes.
Project coordinator Joe Mamo said classrooms would be upgraded to meet the needs of students in what was “a new era” in education.
Mr Bartolo said that the older networks used by educators in schools were not adequate to cater for the needs of both the educators and their students.
“The government wants to create a digital hub for all schools for the digital services,” he said.
Both the 3D printers and scanners would enable students to come up with a specific concept, design it and then move on to printing a 3D version of the design, Mr Mamo said.
“Such printers are the way forward. Soon, every household will have one. By providing these printers and scanners we are in line with other advanced schools across Europe,” he added.
Mr Bartolo said that, through the investment, about 7,000 laptops would be provided to all teaching staff, including learning support assistants and kindergarten assistants.
“Today, most children have access to technological devices, and there is a discrepancy between what they do outside of the school and at school.
“This discrepancy could lead to an increase in early school leavers, as students are more engaged when not at school,” he said.
By addressing the gap, Mr Bartolo added, the government hoped it would motivate more students to further their education.