Some of the teachers who have not yet been supplied with a laptop should be getting the devices this week, well over a month after the start of the scholastic year.

Last month, the Times of Malta reported that about 100 teachers were yet to be provided with a laptop to assist with the delivery of their lectures, as a result of a supply shortage.

At the time, the Education Ministry said the teachers would get the devices in “a couple of weeks”, yet over a month after the start of the new scholastic year, a number of teachers are still having to make do without the laptops.

Contacted about this, a ministry spokeswoman said that the first batch of laptops was to be distributed by mid-next week. The Times of Malta was not told how many laptops would be handed out.

Millions of euros have been invested in the education sector in recent years to ensure that classes are equipped with centralised state-of-the-art systems that will enable educators to give interactive lessons, including interactive whiteboards and 3D printers.

To use the systems, teachers must be connected via laptops or computers.

While teachers have the option to make use of the class computer, educators who do so said these are often too old to use.

Asked whether there existed a similar situation with tablets, the spokeswoman said all those teachers trained to use the devices for lessons had been supplied with one. Teachers still undergoing training would receive a tablet during the training sessions.

The Malta Union of Teachers called off a nation-wide strike last week involving all State and Church educators after an agreement surrounding its pay raise request was reached.

The union is now in talks with the government to discuss improved working conditions.