A law which would amend the Education Act will see the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS) move from under the Ministry of Education to fall under the remit of the Ministry for Tourism.

This evening, Parliament discussed the second reading on the law which would amend the Education Act.  

Speaking in Parliament, Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo said that this change should not be of a controversy because the strength of an institute should not depend on the ministry under which it falls.

He said that this move will improve the quality of the institute. The government will be spending €50 million for the new ITS site.  

Reacting, Nationalist MP George Pullicino said that the Opposition is simply being asked to rubber stamp a law which the government already decided upon. He said that this decision was taken three years ago when the PL was elected in power and that today's debate "is a formality."

Pullicino asked what positive affect this move from one Ministry to another could bring about.

Until today, the law provides that ITS falls under the Ministry for Education. "So the government in the last three years, has acted illegally," Pullicino said. 

However, Minister Bartolo insisted that the Ministry under which the ITS falls is irrelevant. But he explained that a serious institution does not need a Minister, and can work just fine with its own structure. He thanked Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis for making progress on ITS, especially as he had to deal with an Institution in a sorry state.