Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514782
15 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JANUARY 2024 Generations apart: 84% of Maltese teens immigrants should have vote church and independent school students. Students attending independent schools were al- so more critical to the Maltese political system than church and state school students. Students attending independ- ent and church schools also tended to agree more with gen- der equality than state school students; and while independ- ent students scored higher than church and state when it came to immigrants' rights. The study also found that par- ticipation in legal civic and po- litical activities like collecting petitions or attending protests, is significantly lower than the international average. Students attending independent schools are more likely to participate in future legal civic and political activities than students attend- ing state and church schools. Overall, 8% said that they will certainly spray paint slogans on walls and 7% would also block traffic or occupy a pub- lic building as a sign of protest. Students attending independ- ent and church schools are also more likely to participate in fu- ture 'illegal' protests than stu- dents attending state schools. A profile of Maltese teens The study, based on an exten- sive questionnaire touching on various aspects of life including religion, language and politics, also provides an interesting profile of Maltese teenagers. Significantly the survey shows that 50% of 14-year-olds speak mostly in English at home in contrast to 40.3% who speak Maltese; 10% speak other lan- guages. This represents a sharp change since 2016 when 71% said they spoke mostly Maltese. Significantly the percentage of teens who identify as Chris- tians has decreased from 92% to 77%. Moreover 15.3% now say they have no religion. The percentage of teens who nev- er attend any religious service has also increased 16% in 2016 to 24% while those who attend a religious service once a week have decreased from 47% to just 31%. And the percentage of teens who have a complete distrust of political parties has increased from 16% in 2016 to 23% now. While in 2016 only 15% said that they will certainly or prob- ably not vote in general elec- tions when they come of age, the percentage has increased to 28%. This is particularly in- teresting because 16-year-olds can vote in general elections. Still despite this disenchant- ment over 60% believe that Malta's political system works well but 53% think that MPs do not care enough about the wishes of the people. Moreo- ver, 24% disagree that democ- racy is the best system of gov- ernment. And while most students be- lieve in gender equality, a fifth think that men are more quali- fied to serve in politics and 13% think that women should stay out of politics. In an indication of great- er environmental awareness, 83% believe that governments should focus more on the en- vironment then on economic growth. But in an indication of greater individualism 76% think that as adults they will never join a trade union. 2022 2016 Have no religion 15.3 NA Identify as Christians 76.6 91.6 Not born in Malta 12.5 7.8 Mother not born in Malta 19 14.5 Father not born in Malta 23.2 16.1 Never attend religious services 23.7 16.3 Attend a religious service less then once a year 11.9 7.2 Attend religious services once a week 30.6 47.3 Have no trust at all in political parties 22.7 15.6 Have 'a little trust' in political parties 43.7 33.5 Have a lot of trust in political parties 33.6 50.9 Think Malta's political system works well 60.4 NA Have absolutely no trust in peo- ple in general 18.3 11.5 Will probably or certainly not vote in general elections 27.8 14.9 Will probably or certainly not join a political party 73.5 69.1 Will probably or certainly not join a trade union 75.9 69.8 Disagree that men and women should have equal rights 7.6 7.3 Think women should stay out of politics 13.3 11 Think men are more qualified to be political leaders 19.7 21.2 Think there should be an equal number of female and males in parliament 77.2 NA Think immigrants bring cultural, social and economic benefits 79 NA Agree with voting rights for immigrants who lives in country for several years 83.6 67 Agree governments should focus more on environment then eco- nomic growth 82.8 NA Speak mostly in English at home 50 NA Speak mostly Maltese at home 40.3 70.9 Never read newspaper or online equivalent to follow the news 64.6 66 Never watch TV to follow the news 38.5 17.2 Never talk with parents about politics 38.5 46 Never talk with friends about politics 53 55.2 Have less than 10 books at home 8.2 7.2 Have more than 100 books at home 35.5 34.8