Nationalist Party MP Charles Azzopardi criticized the government and the recent Budget in a press conference on Tuesday saying that the PL "does not have the political vision or responsibility that is necessary" to foster quality education in the country.

He also said that the government's lack of investment in education is a product of its monetary mindset and the mindset to "hand out this money to its political core."

During a press conference dedicated to the state of education a number of PN MPs spoke ironically about the recent Budget's motto "Malta ġusta"; collectively, they said that this motto is untrue across several sectors, including education.

"This is a government that has failed in all sectors, including education", Azzopardi said. "What is important to this government is that it secures support in the form of votes."

The Nationalist MP said that through this lacking vision, the foundations for numerous sectors, including that of education, have much to be improved upon. The PN MP called for a government "that protects the long-term interests of families."

Similarly, PN MP Bernice Bonello said that "this government should create an open plan for youths in which there are proposals across all sectors that will truly affect their lives for the better."

"We want a country that is not constructed on clay, because when buildings are developed on clay, they fall", Azzopardi said metaphorically.

The PN's spokesperson for education, Justin Schembri, detailed the Opposition's criticisms against the government's recent Budget proposals, describing that "Malta is unjust" in the process.

Schembri discussed the country's "unjust" nature against teachers. Referencing MUT's decision to strike later this month, he highlighted that "as is currently being discussed, educators will be earning just an additional €1.82 daily". Citing that this is less than this year's COLA, the PN spokesperson stated that the Opposition wishes to improve their working conditions because "we believe in their importance."

He continued that as some schools are built and renovated, "many students spend a lot of their time in classrooms that are falling apart and require immediate maintenance"; Schembri said that these classrooms are being ignored.

Schembri also said that present education "is not inclusive" as "many children are being thrown by the wayside."

Stating that "societal challenges play a factor" in the experience students enjoy inside schools, Schembri condemned the minor increase to stipends, as well as unimplemented past proposals, such as the €300 grant for internet access and the free laptops to 7th year students. Pertaining to the laptop proposal, he said that 8th year students are also still waiting for their free laptops to be given to them by the government a year later.

"The PN wishes to honour its promises to strengthen working conditions of teachers, build a school a year, and help students come out of their difficult personal situations, and eliminate illiteracy," Schembri stated.

The increase to stipends was also questioned by Bernice Bonello.

Bonello mentioned an "injustice" that "students who are on their second or third course are not entitled to a stipend unless they are taking a certain route."

She was also critical about the weekly 25-hour cap on full-time students to work a part-time job during their studies; "should we penalize these financially challenged students by limiting their available working time to 25 hours?" she asked.

Bonello said that action must be taken to "empower all students to progress across all steps of education."

Referencing this year's Budget, she said that "youths were barely mentioned in the Budget" and that "this was confirmed by KSU (University of Malta's student council) in their budget reaction". In this regard, she called on government to address the concerning survey statistic that 70% of Maltese youth wish to emigrate out of the islands in the future and said that while measures have been proposed recently, these measures "do not impact the majority of adolescents."

Reacting to the press conference, the Education Ministry lambasted the Oppositon for its "lies and irresponsible behaviour" in referring to figures from negotiations with the MUT which were "invented."

The Ministry said that these figures are not true and said that they do nothing except show the lack of respect and ethics towards educators in such a delicate moment. "Rather than showing maturity and sensitivity, the Opposition decided to throw false figures which are very far from what was discussed on the negotiation table around," the Ministry said.

The Ministry said that it is committed to continuing to recognise the central role which educators play in society and to continuing to search for an agreement which will result in a substantial and sustainable increase in the conditions of these professionals.