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8 PAUL COCKS TWO embryos are currently fro- zen at Mater Dei Hospital, after the mother fell seriously ill after the two eggs were taken from her and fertilised during an IVF (in- vitro fertilisation) cycle treat- ment but before they could be implanted, according to Health Minister Chris Fearne. Fearne, who was addressing parliament yesterday on a mo- tion he presented to approve the estimates for the Embryo Pro- tection Authority Act, said that these were the only two embryos that were frozen, and that this practice was allowed under the 2012 Embryo Protection Act. He explained that in this case, and as provided by law, the Au- thority had decided to freeze the two embryos some weeks ago after the mother fell seriously ill and had even spent some time at the Intensive Therapy Unit. Fearne said this was the only case where the law provided for the provision of the freezing of embryos, but said he had asked the Bioethics Committee to con- sider other circumstances where it could become legal to freeze embryos. "Such cases could involve the very rare instances where three eggs are fertilised in a cycle, and since it could be a health hazard – for the mother and the babies – to have all three embryos im- planted in the mother, the Au- thority could decide to freeze one of the embryos," he said. Fearne said that 42 babies have been born following IVF treat- ment since January 2015, while another 37 women were current- ly pregnant after having gone through the fertilisation cycle, A further 40 couples had just undergone treatment in the past few days. He said that the average cost for the IVF cycle treatment at Mater Dei Hospital was €7,000 and that the government had spent €770,000 on IVF cycles in 2016 and was estimated to be spending €1.3 million in 2017. Fearne said the use of technol- ogy to help with births was a positive thing and was to be en- couraged. MALTESE 13-year-olds have improved their scores in an in- ternational study measuring mathematical and science com- petences of students from across 39 countries. The study, known as TIMSS – Trends in International Math- ematics and Science Study – shows that local 13-year-old students (Year 9) have obtained 494 score points in Mathematics in the 2015 study, placing Malta in the 20th position. This was six marks higher than the last time the study was done in Malta, back in 2007. In Sci- ence, Maltese students obtained an average of 481 score points, which is 24 additional marks than 2007, placing it in the 22nd position. The improved scores show that the efforts taken between 2007 and 2015 to improve competenc- es in mathematics and science have left a positive mark. The international study takes place every four years, however in the 2011 study Malta's contribution was in a younger age group than this year's. The TIMSS study includes a number of questionnaires that are completed by the students, by heads of school and by teachers of Mathematics and Science. These questionnaires show that higher proportions of Maltese students like learning Science subjects than they do Mathematics while male students value Mathematics more than female students. Then again there is no significant gen- der difference for the value given to Science subjects. The proportion of heads of school (50%) in Malta stating that their schools experience negligi- ble disciplinary problems is sig - nificantly higher than the inter- national average (43%). On the other hand 64% of Maltese students taking part in TIMSS reported that they hardly ever experienced bullying. This study also showed that the proportions of Maltese Mathe- matics and Science teachers with less than 10 years teaching expe- rience (47% and 53% respectively) are significantly higher than the international averages (37% and 38%). maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2016 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA Sudden release of steam badly scalds abattoir workers TWO men were badly scalded by a sudden release of steam at the abattoir. In a statement, the police's communications office said that two men, a 68-year- old man from Zurrieq and a 52-year-old man from Pieta, suffered grievous injuries. Both workers were taken to Mater Dei Hospital for medi- cal care. The Zurrieq resident is recovering at the hospital 's intensive care unit. Police investigations are con- tinuing. Form 3 students improve Malta's rating in international maths and science study Two embryos currently frozen at Mater Dei Embryo Protection Authority ordered the freezing of two embryos after the mother fell seriously ill before she could finish the IVF treatment cycle