Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday said that initiatives being taken by the government were leading to more women making a contribution in society.

Speaking at a dialogue meeting held by the Nationalist Party’s Women’s Movement, Dr Gonzi said that measures being introduced were aimed at strengthening the family within modern day realities.

He said more women were finding employment, and more women were taking up courses at the university and at MCAST.

Out of a total of 8,800 university students, 5,100, or 58 per cent, were women. At MCAST, 38 per cent of the students – 1,400 from 3,700 – were women too. This meant that women were today taking the opportunities that were being presented to them, believing that education was the key to success.

Dr Gonzi added that 35 per cent of the workforce was made up of women and, of these, 44 per cent were women under 24 years of age.