Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Education Minister Evarist Bartolo today launched the paid study leave programme, also known as sabbatical, for educators across the board.

Speaking at St Clare’s college, secondary school in Pembroke – the first state school to have introduced the concept of co-education, Dr Muscat said that he welcomed the fact that the Malta Union of Teachers agreed to the idea of sabbatical leave. MUT top officials were present for the news conference.

The study leave can either be taken in a staggered manner or at one go. Those educators who are interested can take up to one year sabbatical. If they do not successfully end their studies, educators would have to pay back the wage they received while on paid study leave.

Dr Muscat said that the government was investing heavily in educators, pointing out that the state would have to pay both the educators who replace others while on their paid study leave, and those educators who are on study leave.

On the fact that the college was the first to introduce co-education, Dr Muscat said that he was satisfied to hear that students attending this college were given a questionnaire on the issue.

The students’ feedback, Dr Muscat said, was ‘what is the big deal?’, adding that for students it was nothing out of this world but pointed out that a number of people hadn’t understood the concept clearly before it was introduced.

While at the school, Dr Muscat was swamped by students requesting his autograph.