Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima, together with the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, on Friday launched the One Device Per Child (ODPC) project.
This €54 million initiative, co-financed through national and European funds, aims to continue transforming education in Malta and Gozo, a gvernment statement said.
Every Year 7 student, both in state and non-state schools, will receive a personal laptop as part of this project. The first phase, starting in the 2025/26 scholastic year, will cover students in Years 7, 8, and 9.
"Today's launch is not just about providing laptops. This is a project through which we are creating an inclusive, interactive, and innovative learning environment that gives every student the opportunity to succeed in a digital world," Minister Grima said.
He explained that through this initiative, every secondary school student will receive a personal laptop along with access to high-quality digital resources. Educators will also benefit from ongoing training to effectively integrate digital tools into their teaching. "This project represents a historic step towards bridging the digital divide and building a generation ready for the future," Grima added.
The initiative is built around four main objectives: improving access to education both in school and at home; promoting inclusive, high-quality learning for every student regardless of background or ability; strengthening digital engagement and driving Malta's educational transformation; and reducing early school leaving by enhancing students' digital skills.
Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi highlighted the European dimension of the project: "This project shows how Malta is making wise use of European Union support to invest in the future of its children and young people. The European Social Fund Plus is giving us the means to create a more modern and inclusive educational environment that not only provides equipment but also strengthens digital skills and opportunities for every student. Our commitment is to ensure that European funds are not just numbers on paper, but tools to create new opportunities for all students."
Beyond providing laptops, the project will deliver digital content aligned with the national curriculum, making learning more interactive and engaging. Safeguards have also been built in to ensure a safe digital learning environment, including protection and filtering systems on devices.
Through its combination of technology, training, and resources, the initiative supports the European Union's Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 and Malta's National Education Strategy 2021-2024, aligning Malta with Europe's goals for a digitally skilled and inclusive society.
This project underscores Malta's commitment to equipping the younger generation with the tools and opportunities needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world, the government said.