‘Children embrace diversity more than parents’ - Bartolo

Children embrace diversity more than their parents do, education minister Evarist Bartolo said today.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Bartolo and equality minister Helena Dalli visited the Mosta primary school which hosts a number of children born to foreign parents.

While acknowledging that politicians are responsible for changing laws, Bartolo said that the political class has the added responsibility of “ensuring that multiculturalism and diversity are not hindered.”

Admitting that the situation in Malta is far from perfect, Bartolo however noted with satisfaction positive changes in people’s attitude towards non-Maltese citizens.

“There’s a positive generational change which we are witnessing in our schools, where children are clearly embracing diversity more than their parents are.”

At the moment Maltese schools welcome students from 35 different countries, while in total there are 101 different nationalities living in Malta.

While reiterating the government’s commitment to promote diversity and multiculturalism, Dalli noted that the people’s mentality did not always reflect legislation.

However, the minister said, “in future years, multiculturalism will become the norm.”