Malta is increasingly improving its information and communication technology image in Europe, and British High Commissioner Nick Archer said he was impressed by the increasing number of Maltese graduates in the field.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the High Commission’s donation of 15 computer monitors to the Education, Youth and Employment Ministry, for use in schools, Mr Archer described the donation as a “visible contribution to the local community and a small part of broadening cooperation between the British and Maltese educational sectors”.

While the token donation was intended to stress the importance of ICT education, it also drew attention to the broader relationship between the two countries in the educational sphere.

The British High Commission was currently active in the fields of quality and standards, as well as higher education, while British and Maltese experts were also cooperating on special-needs education.

The high commissioner welcomed the presence of Education Minister Louis Galea at an international seminar, Moulding Young Minds, held in London two months ago and said he looked forward to more cooperation on ICT in education.

Mr Archer also mentioned the strong academic links between the British Council and the University of Malta, and the growing interest of British higher-education institutions offering qualifications through Maltese partner organisations like St Martin’s.

He stressed that Britain fully shared the Maltese authorities’ concern for quality, which he said was also a vital issue for the UK.

The permanent secretary in the Education Ministry, Frans Borg underlined the Education Ministry’s commitment towards the development of ICT education in schools. He said the donation of monitors would support the government’s effort to improve IT literacy among the Maltese.