As the number of students who opt to continue their post-secondary studies continues to grow, the Government has to start planning a new Junior College, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

He said the Junior College in Msida was “packed to the brim” with 3,000 students, even after a €1.5 million investment in an extension which has increased classrooms and facilities.

He was speaking during a visit to the college extension project, which was necessary because of the drastic increase in the number of students applying for their two-year post-secondary course in the past years. The project is partially funded by European Regional Development Funds.

Dr Gonzi said the number of students who opted to continue with their post-secondary education had increased from 47 per cent in recent years to 80 per cent, with the Government targeting the 100 per cent mark.

He praised the “excellent” results students were achieving and explained the way the Government was focusing its efforts to have an educational system which suited everyone’s needs rather than a one-size-fits-all.