The Education Ministry is distributing more than 9,000 two-in-one devices, meaning tablet-laptops to all Year 4 and Year 5 students.

Education Minister Clifton Grima visited St Thomas More College, Nazzareno Farrugia Primary School B in Fgura, where he distributed two-in-one devices to Year 4 and Year 5 students, a government statement said.

These digital devices are currently being distributed across all government, church, and independent primary schools.

"We are distributing more than 9,000 two-in-one devices. Through careful planning and the National Education Strategy, we are building on past successes and further improving them," Grima said.

He said that while students previously received tablets, government saw the need to evolve and provide these two-in-one devices, which offer benefits similar to tablets but also function like laptops.

"This way, we are preparing Year 4 and Year 5 students for when they will receive a government-issued laptop in Year 7," Grima said.

So far, nearly 2,000 of these digital devices have already been distributed, with the remaining ones expected to be handed out by next month.

The statement said that in the coming days, the Digital Education Strategy will be launched, aligning with the National Education Strategy 2024-2030.

This strategy will provide the necessary framework for developing 21st-century digital skills, particularly in digital preparedness, digital well-being, and digital citizenship.

The statement said that through the distribution of these digital devices and the initiatives outlined in both the National Education Strategy and the Digital Education Strategy, the Ministry continues to recognize the ongoing digital transformation.

It spoke of the importance of equipping students with essential digital citizenship skills.

Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Education Matthew Vella, the Director of the Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills Department Neil Attard, the school's Principal and Head, as well as representatives from the company supplying the devices.