Education Minister Evarist Bartolo admitted this evening that introducing different school opening hours would not be an easy task and would inevitably lead to complications. He said, however, that it is for this reason that the issue will be put up for public consultation.  

Mr Bartolo was addressing another Gvern li jisma public consultation meeting along with Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Chris Agius.

Referring to the budget measure announced on Monday - a proposal for a White Paper on School Hours which would study different school hours as a means to reduce traffic congestion - Mr Bartolo said there is no easy solution. "That is why we will be discussing the issue with all stakeholders before taking decisions."

The Malta Union of Teachers has already rejected the proposal.

Earlier, the Education Minister said he is sometimes criticised for moving too fast but the government cannot move slow when it comes to some 7,000 youths who do not study, work or register for work. "We have all these inactive youths. When we tried to get them into a training programme only 250 enrolled. We cannot go slow on these people. We have to act fast."

Replying to a question on co-education, Mr Bartolo said students are hardly noticing the change since primary schools are already co-ed. The Minister said a lot of good can come out of this initiative, mainly girls "putting some sense in boys' minds."

Mr Bartolo also referred to the in-work benefit that was announced in the budget. The initiative is not only seen as a means to get more people in the workforce but also as a measure to lead to better quality jobs and better trained workers.

Half of new jobs created this year were taken up by foreigners. This is partly because many Maltese do not have the necessary skills for the available jobs and partly because they refuse to take up these jobs, which have become synonymous with migrants and foreigners. Mr Bartolo said, however, that it is unacceptable for unemployed Maltese to refuse jobs just because they are not to their liking. Those who do will lose their benefits.  

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said the government will be launching or completing a number of sports projects, including the Birzebbugia water polo pitch, the roofing of the basketball pavilion, new football grounds in Gozo and works on the Marsa sports complex. An international-level shooting range will be completed by 2017.