The National Youth Council (KNZ) encourages the participation of youths in society and recognises their contribution to the world of work, education, research and voluntary work, said president Alessia Zammit yesterday.

Ms Zammit was speaking on the occasion of National Youth Day. She said that the KNZ was also contributing to the EU’s campaign “All diverse, all equal” because youths believe that they should have equal opportunities and should never be discriminated against on a basis of race, sex, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Louis Galea said that Maltese youngsters should have a long-term vision in both the personal and national sphere of things. “If a country wants to progress, it must offer a good standard of living through renewing itself with a sense of optimism and caution,” said Dr Galea.

He said that the country’s economy was intertwined with education. “The figures continue to rise; in fact 70 per cent of those over 17 years of age are in some form of educational institution,” he said.

He pointed out that both the MCAST and the University had grown in order to take more students and were again planning to increase numbers in the near future. “We have also encouraged students to further their education by offering stipends and further subsidies for those in need, while we have also increased grants to stimulate more interest in the sciences,” he said.

He said that educational institutions were also keeping an eye on the world of employment in an effort to better prepare students for work. Dr Galea also spoke to the KNZ on the issue of female participation in the world of work. “We need structures whereby both parents can go out to work and we need to encourage women to be more active in society,” he said.

Minister Galea also said that Gozitan youths were being given attention by the government. “The number of Gozitan students who are studying at MCAST and the University is increasing, while the ITS college is being rebuilt,” he said.