During summer, the government embarks on a programme to carry out maintenance work in many of its schools. At a time when school buildings are empty because students are on holiday, the Education Ministry takes the opportunity to see to the physical needs of the complexes.

Over the past years, the government has stuck to its promise of delivering a new school each and every year. These new buildings are equipped with the best facilities, and offer a very pleasant environment for both the students and the school administration to study and work in.

But the older schools cannot be neglected, and this is why there is a need to carry out such maintenance work every summer. This often includes work that could be dangerous if there are children around, and therefore it is imperative that such jobs are concluded before the students return in late September.

The Nationalist government gives great importance to education – right from the early pre-school years to tertiary schooling and beyond. It is not a surprise that education is one of the most mentioned subjects when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi makes his usual address on Sunday mornings.

Last Sunday was no exception, as Dr Gonzi took time from his private visit abroad to share his views on the importance of giving the best education possible to each and every youngster. And by this he did not mean only from an academic point of view – Dr Gonzi has often remarked that students who are weak academically can still succeed in other spheres if given the right tools.

And this is where the emphasis has been laid. Malta’s best resources are its people, and great efforts have been made not to lose any of Malta’s talents. There are students who are not academically strong enough to enter University, but they are now provided with the opportunity to join the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology. A new MCAST complex is being built in Corradino to allow 10,000 students to attend, while a similar number of young people are already attending University courses.

It is encouraging to note that the number of students who continue their studies way beyond the obligatory schooling age continues to increase year after year. This means that the government’s policy of encouraging youngsters to pursue their education is succeeding, also thanks to the opportunities being provided.

Parents should take the cue from this and continue to push their children to further their studies before they enter the world of work. Although some kind of work experience is positive – a summer job, for example – young people should realise that the more they study, the more they will widen their horizons and give themselves better opportunities in life.