Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1305625
T he budget presented by this Government is proof enough, if proof was ever needed, that this Govern- ment prioritises the education sector. The budget for 2021 has confirmed this Government's commitment towards this sector as a main pillar for economic growth with an end result of strengthening our standard of living – also by increasing expenditure in this sector thus further strengthening the education sector. The Budget for 2021 will go down in history as the largest budget ever allocated to the education and employment sector. In total, the budget for the year 2021 gives a total increase of €65 million - without taking into account Euro- pean funds. One also has to take into consideration that in July through negotiations held, Malta secured the largest ever EU Package of €2.25 billion for the next seven years, which will also be used to continue to strengthen the nec- essary investments in sectors including education. Investing in education is a commitment by this legisla- ture as education plays an important part of our quality of life, as it is a basic need for a society to thrive and work to- wards a new economic vision for our country - in the long run, education leads us to a strong economy. The budget speech referred to our ongoing infrastructur- al investment. The inauguration of the new Qawra Primary School just under a month back, the completion of anoth- er phase of the Żejtun Secondary School within that same week, and soon the inauguration of the completion of the restoration of the School of Arts in Valletta, are just three projects which have started and been completed for the benefit of our children. The budget speech also delves into the Ministry's plans for the coming year. This includes the construction of two new schools - the Primary School in Rabat, Gozo and that of Msida, but also the modernization of the Santa Luci- ja Secondary School and St. George's Primary School in Qormi. 2021 will also see a large-scale modernization at the Primary School in Rabat, Malta with an investment of €2.3 million, at Nadur Primary School with an investment of €1 million and at Għaxaq Primary School with another investment of €1 million. Work will also begin on an exten- sion of the Naxxar Primary School with an investment of another €2 million. Just to name a few, 2021 will see new investments in ter- tiary education: a new sports complex at the University of Malta, which will include, among others, facilities for the performing arts; an indoor track for athlete training; a full size football pitch; an Olympic track and a new building for the Institute of Physical Education and the School of Per- forming Arts. Apart from these, the building of more facilities at MCAST which will provide access for students, employees and the surrounding community to sports, recreational, and edu- cational facilities are on the cards. This Government is highly committed to invest in educa- tional infrastructure to have a better educational future for our children and future generations. Another commitment is the continuation of our priority to provide learning opportunities for all children, young people and adults to acquire the skills necessary to suc- ceed in the workplace and in society. This is being done in the framework of a strategy for our education system, which should lead to a further reduction, gradually, in the rate of early school leavers; the increase in adults aged 30- 34 with tertiary level qualifications and a greater participa- tion in adult learning. These last months has confirmed the importance of tech- nology and schooling, as the closure of schools and educa- tional institutions due to the pandemic led to the internet as a primary source for teaching. This budget announced that the Government will be providing free internet access, for a full year, to those students who choose to continue their studies after completing their secondary school stud- ies. Education is not solely the responsibility of our country's educators, who are doing a brilliant job in the circumstanc- es we are all living due to the COVID outbreak – parents are the first educators and also have to support our educators in this responsibility. To further enhance the educational experience for our children, the Government will also be offering online sessions, for parents, to work with teach- ers to contribute and provide a better education for their children. Education features in other important sectors as well. The budget speech announced that all members of the Disciplinary Forces will continue to receive training over the next year, both in Malta and abroad. The Academy for Disciplinary Bodies will continue the accreditation process with the National Commission for Advanced and Higher Education (NCFHE) and the first accredited course will be the basic training of Police Corps recruits. Investing in our children is an ongoing priority and no matter what hurdles are thrown in our path, we will do our utmost to see that our children are given the best they can have. Take the COVID-19 unprecedented situation prevail- ing. Upon the schools' abrupt closure last March, our imme- diate priority was to work out a plan for their reopening. I strongly believe, and have not budged from this state- ment, that the best education a child can have is a proper education in school, with the guidance of our caring and devoted educators. To re-open the schools for this scholastic year, we have up to now allocated €26 million so that schools reopen in accordance with the protocols for the protection of chil- dren, educators and workers' health. For next year, another €11,962,000 is expected to be spent on recurring costs in view of the same protocols. Minister Bonnici stressed that this is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to the further advancement of children and students' education and of how seriously the Government has taken the health and safety of children, educators and school workers. These amounts include additional expenditure on the cleaning service, the security service, the supervision ser- vice on the arrival and departure of the children, the pro- vision of cleaning materials; washing, hygiene, sanitation and disinfection, payments related to risk assessments, payments related to pre-recorded lessons, additional child-minding services at two new centres and new costs related to breakfast for children among others. Where our children are concerned, we promise that we will be there for all their needs. A healthy society is a society which gives priority to edu- cation. As the Minister responsible, I again pledge my com- mitment to see that this sector is given its due priority to benefit all our children and all future generations. Investing in our children THIS IS A PAID ADVERT Owen Bonnici Minister for Education