Around 8,600 educators in state schools returned for the 2025/26 scholastic year, the government said Monday. On Wednesday, 24 September, students from the first year to the eleventh year of schooling will begin their academic year, with kindergarten students starting in the following days.

The Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, Clifton Grima, on Monday visited St Thomas More College Secondary School in Żejtun to welcome the educators on their first day. Following weeks of preparation, educators physically returned to schools today to complete their final preparations before students arrive.

"I am visiting these educators just a few days before they welcome students in schools across Malta and Gozo. Together, we must ensure that we give the best for our children. The best for our children by providing strong infrastructure, the best for our children by ensuring that educators and academic staff are content, work that leads to all students being given the best education," Grima said.

At this Secondary School in Żejtun there are 205 educators and around 1,000 students. The government said it continues to put educators at the centre, not only through the collective agreement which brought a concrete increase in salaries, a clear sign of how much the Government values their work. This increase not only gives economic recognition but also encourages greater quality and dedication in the classroom, so that every boy and girl benefits from education of the highest level.

The Ministry said it is working to place educators at the centre of educational policy because it believes the best investment is in our children's education. This is reflected in how educators are now involved from the very start in the policies drawn up by the ministry, while also being given more training opportunities. Work is also being done to continually improve their working environment, the statement said.

Educators returned to schools which, over the summer, underwent significant infrastructure works. In recent months, more than €6 million were invested in renovation and improvement projects across schools, the government said.

Minister Grima also referred to the provision of laptops to Year 7 students, affirming that this €54 million initiative co-financed by national and European funds will continue to transform education in Malta and Gozo. He emphasized, "This is a project through which educators also benefit from an inclusive, interactive, and innovative learning environment that gives every student the opportunity to succeed in a digital world."