National forum on the Maltese language to be held next month

A national public forum on the Maltese language will be held next month, following a public consultation over the summer months, education minister Evarist Bartolo said.

The forum will be held on the 7 November.

Speaking at a press confernce at the national library, Bartolo said that some 30 people had contributed to the consultation and others had contributed their opinions on the subject.

"The main topics that emerged from the consultation were the role of the National Maltese Council in shaping the future of the language, the updating and changes in spelling rules and the use of Maltese in various sectors, like the media and education," Bartolo said.

"The ministry has decided to double the funding for the council," Bartolo said, adding that he had become acquainted with the work of the council over the past 10 years.

Bartolo said that the forum, which will be held at the Excelsior Hotel in Floriana, would be used to determine what the next step would be for both the council and for the Maltese Language Act.