The summer holidays are over and it’s back to school: the gates are open! More than 54,000 children aged between three and 16 started school this week. There are 7,645 pupils in kindergarden classes, 23,513 in primary schools and 23,101 in secondary schools. More than 5,000 students are following courses at the Junior College, the Higher Sec in Naxxar, in Gozo and in the various private schools’ Sixth Forms. The Institute of Tourism Studies has 497 students, while the student population of MCAST is 5,100. At the ceremony to mark the commencement of the academic year, University Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri welcomed around 3,000 freshers, with another 8,000 or so students joining them on campus next week.

In preparation for the coming scholastic year, no fewer than 53 schools have been upgraded during the summer months. Two new schools, one in Mosta and the other in Victoria Gozo, with an investment of around €14 million have been completed to open their doors for the first time this scholastic year. More schools are now equipped with more computers, more laboratories and more sports facilities.

The new scholastic year brings with it further reform. There will be no Junior Lyceum or Common Entrance exams for Year Six students. Hopefully, this will reduce the unecessary induced stress on students at such an early age, not to mention the stress on their parents.

A new agreement with the Malta Union of Teachers means better working conditions and allowances for teachers who look after the children attending the various state, church and independent schools. All 3,337 teachers – including the 148 who are just starting their teaching career – together with their school heads, certainly deserve our appreciation for their dedication and committment.

Just last week I was at yet another scholarship award ceremony. In the last five years, 1,085 students have been awarded scholarships to the value of €11.6 million. With 445 awards, 2010 has been a record year for the number of scholarships awarded. A few weeks ago, the first series of scholarships for students of the performing arts were also awarded and this year alone, €22.3 million will be given to our undergraduates in stipends.

However, the government’s investment has not been limited to higher education, as an emphasis is also being placed on early childhood education. The opening of new child-care centres, and the strenghtening of our kindergartens through the introduction of computers in each classroom, is evidence of the importance being given to this sector.

If we really want to succeed – in other words, if we want our economy, democracy and society to thrive – then we must invest in high quality education. Successive Nationalist governments have done just that.