Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541988
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS MATTHEW AQUILINA On the 30 th anniversary of your tragic and mysterious disappearance together with the other passengers of the Piper Lance 9H-ABU We miss you so much dearest Matthew, love Mama, Papa, Daniel & Adrienne, Gillian, Emma, Sophie, Luisa, Anna, Nino, Mattia, Luca, family and friends. Please remember Matthew in your thoughts and prayers. Men account for nearly three-quarters of new driving licences over past two years KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt MEN continued to dominate new driving licences issued in Malta in both 2024 and 2025, al- though the proportion of female drivers increased slightly year- on-year, according to data tabled in parliament. A total of 7,824 driving li- cences were issued in 2024, with men accounting for 76.8% of new licence holders, while women made up 23.2%. Figures for 2025, covering the period up to October, show that 6,852 licences were issued. Of these, 74.18% were granted to men, while women account- ed for 25.8%. The data points to a modest rise in the share of women ob- taining driving licences in 2025 compared with the previous year, alongside a correspond- ing drop in the male share. The information was tabled in parliament by Transport Min- ister Chris Bonett in reply to questions by Opposition MP Ivan Bartolo. CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The attacker has since been charged and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, grievous injury, carrying a weapon and keeping an explosive substance. But Bonnici's concern wasn't rooted in xenophobia or a fear that Maltese nationals will be- come minorities in their own country, as is frequently pushed by far-right rhetoric, with the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) president acknowledging expos- ing children to different beliefs and cultures can be beneficial. According to the MUT Presi- dent, whereas state schools were the only schools where Maltese is the language of instruction, which refers to the language in which most subjects are taught, the majority of staff now com- municate with students in Eng- lish. After the interview, Bonnici was speaking candidly about this phenomenon, where he noted that even though it is associat- ed with double insularity, even Gozitan state schools are coming to terms with a growing number of non-Maltese speakers. In fact, figures tabled in parlia- ment this month show 18% of primary school students in Gozo are foreign, while a similar rate of 17.8% of kindergarten stu- dents in Gozo aren't Maltese. Other statistics tabled by Ed- ucation Minister Clifton Grima show the share of foreign stu- dents in some Maltese primary schools are quite higher. For instance, 23.7% of students in Mosta's two primary schools are foreign, and 20% of Attard's primary students are foreign. The figure jumps to 30% when examining the share of foreign primary school students in Val- letta, Floriana, Marsa, Ħamrun, Santa Venera, and Pieta. The share of foreign students then slumps to 19.7% in tertiary education institutions such as the University of Mal- ta. Similar data relating to MCAST students was unclear. During the inter- view, Bonnici clar- ified foreign stu- dents are being taught a different Maltese language course tailored specifically for them, describing the initiative as a beneficial one. But he warned that Maltese isn't only learned through lectures. That is why, he argued, the implementation of a language policy in schools is beneficial and needed. Malta Union of Teachers head says most lessons at state schools being carried out in English According to the MUT President, whereas state schools were the only schools where Maltese is the language of instruction, which refers to the language in which most subjects are taught, the majority of staff now communicate with students in English More than half of driving licences issued in 2024 and 2025 were men Malta Union of Teachers President Marco Bonnici