Ongoing efforts to reduce costs – Education Ministry

Reacting to a press conference held this morning by the Labour Party, the Ministry for the Education said that all services for children and youth will "be given the same as before".

While the Ministry did not deny any of the figures as announced by the Opposition, it said that this year's allocated budget increased by €15.4 million.

"While in Malta the investment in education is increasing, other countries have had to drastically cut their education budget because of the international economic crisis," the ministry said.

It added that government had decided to review its budget because of the international economic situation. But during the press conference, Labour MP Evarist Bartolo also announced that in a document sent to all the ministers, the Finance Minister had told them that budget reductions were necessary also because of "developments within the public finance sector".

However, the education ministry insisted that government's revision of the budget was for the country to be prepared if it was to be impacted by the crisis, just like what had happened in 2009.

"In 2009, government had saved 5,000 workplaces because it had the necessary measures to intervene to help the economy and safeguard jobs," it said.

The ministry said that efforts were ongoing to try and minimize its cost and that of its departments and entities as much as possible: "This is being done by ensuring more effective work and by not recruiting new workers in certain sectors."

The ministry added that government paid extra attention not to reduce capital investments or essential services such as teachers, kindergarten assistance, learning support assistants and other professional who support students.

"The recruitment restrictions will not impact professions such as teachers, kindergarten assistants, LSAs and other professionals," the ministry assured.

The Labour Party also said that some €1 million have been cut from the funds allocated to Church schools. Even though no clear reference was made to the substantial figure, the education ministry said, "just like it did in the past, government is committed to honour its obligations".

The PL also announced a €2.4 million cut in the University of Malta's budget and a €100,000 deduction in the stipends. However the ministry said, "despite everything, government decided that the stipends shouldn't be touched".

The ministry went on to draw comparisons to when Evarist Bartolo had been the minister for the education and said that he had been the one who asked students to pay back their stipends.