Education minister Evarist Bartolo today emphasised the need to push for further growth in the English language travel sector.

“It is not just about bums on seats. Yes, the students will enjoy themselves, but they also have to have a good educational experience,” Mr Bartolo said during an address at the 2nd ELT Malta conference.

Mr Bartolo emphasised that Malta’s “past, present and future” are bilingual. He said that strengthening the English language does not have to come at the expense of the Maltese language.

“It is not the first time that people hide behind the noble excuse and seek refuge in patriotism and flying the national flag. We want teachers in our schools to feel adequate when it comes to using English,” Mr Bartolo said.

The minister said that top quality teachers in the English language sector are needed “because we want the sector to grow and influence positively our formal education system.

He said that he is “alarmed” at the level of English and Maltese in Maltese schools, as well as a decline in the uptake of languages such as Italian and French.