Education Minister Evarist Bartolo is unsure of the total project cost and did not specify that a specific maximum budget is being kept for the tablet programme, he told The Malta Independent.

The final phase of the pilot project will see the university together with e-learning research and evaluate the results. This final stage is set to begin in March, and will see the best tablet chosen as well as other infrastructural decisions.

Today marked the second stage of the tablet pilot project, finally seeing tablets arrive in the hands of children in specific classes in 20 schools around the Maltese islands. A number of companies have provided software and tablets for the project.

The schools partaking in the pilot project also include private and church schools, as well as some year three and five classes along with the year four's, who are set to receive the tablets for use in 2016.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo announced this second stage whilst touring a primary school in Msida. The first phase of the project saw teachers receive training for tablet use, whilst this second phase (which will end in March) will help evaluate the project and address any problems that crop up. The final phase will see an upgrade in infrastructure in schools, such as internet to ensure proper tablet usage as well as training for all teachers involved.

This pilot project sees some 350 students taking part, along with around 32 teachers as well as a number of LSAs.

Minister Bartolo explained that in countries where teacher training did not occur, the project failed.

Whilst touring the class, the teacher taught the students to take photos in addition to writing on their tablets. Minister Bartolo emphasised the importance of tablets as educational tools, not just technological ones.

Speaking with the Malta Independent, the Minister argued that once the project is in place, year four's will be allowed to hold on to their tablet until the end of primary school, however was unsure whether they would be able to use them past primary school. "This is something we are looking into".

The teacher in charge of the class mentioned that the project is thus far, doing well.